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A HAND-BOOK 


TO THE 

PEAK OF DERBYSHIRE, 

AND TO 


THE USE OE THE BUXTON MINERAL WATERS. 































\ 

\ 


South and West Fronts of the New Ranges of Hot Baths at Buxton, showing the connection of the Baths with 

the East End of the Crescent. 























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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South Front of the New Ranges of Natural Baths at Buxton, showing the connection of the Baths with the 

West End of the Crescent. 








































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































/ 


A HAND BOOK 


TO THE 



AND TO THE USE OF 

in 

THE BUXTON MINERAL WATERS. 

/ / ■> ' 

By WILLIAM H: ROBERTSON, M.D., 

SENIOR PHYSICIAN TO THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY AND DEVONSHIRE 

HOSPITAL. 


WITH 

A MAP OF THE PEAK OF DERBYSHIRE, AND THE SURROUNDING! 
DISTRICTS ; ELEVATIONS AND PLANS OF 
THE BATHS, ETC.; 



Ijotanital Apniiu 

By MISS HAWKINS • 


AND A NEW DIRECTORY OF DISTANCES, ROUTES, HOTELS, INNS, 

AND LODGING-HOUSES ; 


A NEW ISSUE: 


TO WHICH IS PREFIXED A BRIEF STATEMENT CF THE MORE 
RECENT PROGRESS AND CHANGES IN BUXTON, ITS 
INCREASED ACCOMMODATIONS AND RE¬ 
SOURCES, LOCAL SANATORY 
CONDITION, ETC. 


BUXTON : 

JOHN CUMMING BATES, CRESCENT NEWS ROOM ; 


SOLD BY W. ROBINS, BOOKSELLER, WINSTER PLACE ; W. D. SUTTON, 
“ HERALD ” OFFICE, SPRING GARDENS J JOHN ACTON, CHEMIST, 
QUADRANT ; JAS. TURNER, SPAR MUSEUM, HALL BANK ; 

E. WEBSTER, SPAR MUSEUM, MARKET PLACE ; 

F. ANZANI, BAZAAR, SPRING GARDENS J 
ETC., ETC. 

LONDON : W. H. SMITH AND SONS, STRAND. 


MANCHESTER 

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) > > 


DINHAM AND CO., CORPORATION STREET. 

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BUXTON : 

PRINTED BY JOHN CUMMING BATES, “ADVERTISER” OPFIOE, 
HOT BATH COLONNADE. 

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PREFACE. 


The want of sucli a work as the present has been so continually 
and urgently complained of, that I hope this volume may prove 
to be acceptable to the public. I have made occasional use of my 
work on “ Buxton and its Waters.” The present hand-book is, 
however, of a much more extensive character; at the same time 
that it is not intended to answer all the more strictly medical 
purposes of the older publication. I am so much indebted to 
Miss Hawkins, for the excellent botanical commentary and 
catalogue,—to Mr. Smithers, the able and indefatigable agent of 
his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, for valuable suggestions and 
kind and efficient assistance in every way,—to Mr. Henry Currey, 
the architect of the new baths and principal buildings, for 
permission to use the elevations and plans,—and to Mr. Smith, 
of the Buxton office, for the excellent map of the district, and 
plan of the new park, walks, and pleasure grounds,—that it is 
my grateful duty to record the obligations, and express my 
thanks. 

The Squaee, Buxton, 

June, 1854. 


The seven years which have passed since the first issue of 
this work have been years of steady progress. The year 1856 
saw the termination of the active and useful life of Mr. Smithers, 
the enterprising agent of the Duke of Devonshire; under whose 






iv 


PEEFACE. 


energetic advice and care the New Baths had been erected, 
and so much had been done, during five actively employed 

years, to add to the capabilities, the resources, and embellishment 

% 

of Buxton. During those years, of three of which this work had 
given a full statement, not only had the New Baths been erected, 
the Buxton Park laid out, the walks carried through 
Corbar Wood, and the important analysis of the great gaseous 
tepid mineral waters obtained, but a large sum of money had been 
collected by public subscription, for building and establishing a 
Hospital, for accommodating the patients of the Bath Charity. 
Happily for the interests of Buxton, Mr. Smithers was succeeded 
in the Ducal agency by Mr. Wilmot, in the autumn of the year 
1856 ; and the erection of a Market Hall; the conversion of large 
buildings to the purposes of the poor patients of the Bath Charity, 
by the munificence of the late Duke of Devonshire ; the erection 
of one new church and three new chapels, in the town or its 
immediate neighbourhood; the efficient construction of ample and 
extended drainage and sewerage works, under the able guidance 
of Mr. Rawlinson, in connection with the act for the Local 
Government of Towns, within the provisions of which Buxton has 
had the good fortune to be placed; the rapid progress of two lines 
of railway, from Whaley Bridge on the north and from Rowsley 
on the east, by which Buxton is soon to be connected with 
the London and North Western Railway Company on the one 
side, and with the Midland Railway Company on the other • the 
planning and completing of Cavendish Terrace, a wide and level 
promenade, connecting the Crescent and Hall Gardens with the 
south-western extremity of the town, affording building sites of 
great extent and value, opening out the valley of Buxton more 
and more fully, and enabling its beauties to be enlivened by the 
construction of ornamental waters of important magnitude; 
are some of the improvements which distinguish the few years 
since the death of Mr. Smithers. And more and more baths are 
necessarily added from time to time, to meet increasing wants; 
a hot-air bath, or so called Turkish Bath, is now in course of 
construction, to supply what may prove to be a means of 


PREFACE. 


- V 

increased usefulness; a rapid increase in the number of lodging- 
houses, connecting Buxton with Cote Heath in one direction, with 
Northern End in another direction, with Fairfield in another, 
and with Burbage in a fourth direction, probably multiplying 
the lodging accommodation of the place by not less than four 
times, within a very few years, shew the endeavours that are 
made to meet the requirements of the public. 

The Devonshire Hospital contains 100 beds for patients, in 
addition to spacious day-rooms, lobbies, domestic offices, a house 
for the master and matron, and a house for the chaplain, and is 
surrounded by its own walks and grounds. It stands on a dry 
eminence, close to the town,—has a southern and western exposure, 
—is a cheerful and well-lighted mansion, commanding extensive 
and beautiful views,—is thoroughly ventilated,—and is warmed in 
the most efficient way. An annual subscription of one ginuea, 
or a casual subscription of thirty shillings, gives the right of 
sending a poor and fit person as an in-patient for three weeks; 
during which time, board and lodging, medical advice, medicines, 
baths, &c., and every care and comfort are provided. A printed 
statement of the rules, &c., may be obtained by application to the 
Master of the Hospital, either by letter or otherwise. 

The Local Government Act has given to Buxton and its 
neighbourhood, including Northern End, great part of Burbage, 
and the whole of both Upper and Lower Buxton, the most 
complete and efficient modern system of drainage, by which 
all possible sources of local impurity and disease are at once 
removed, in addition to the creation of an active executive system, 
by which general local government is secured, nuisances are 
abated, improvements are regulated and carried out in the best 
way, and streets, roads, and houses, are planned or supervised. 
The great fact, that the local drainage has been executed so 
efficiently, in a place so favoured as Buxton is by nature, as to its 
upland position, and the limestone and gritstone formations, on 
which it is built, and by which it is surrounded, must obtain for 
Buxton a sanatory character of the highest class. 








vi 


PREFACE. 


In the year 1860 , Dr. Muspratt, of Liverpool, published the 


following analysis of the Buxton tepid water 

Carbonate of lime. 

Carbonate of magnesia. 

Carbonate of protoxyde of iron . 

Sulphate of lime .. 

Chloride of calcium. 

Chloride of magnessium. 

Chloride of sodium... 

Chloride of potassium. 

Silica ....... 

Nitric acid.... 

Organic matter... 

Fluoride of calcium . 

Phosphate of lime..... 


Grains in the 
imperial gallon. 
.. 8*541 

.. 3-741 

.. 0-082 
.. 0-330 

.. 1-227 

.. 0*463 

.. 2-405 

.. 0-260 
.. 1-044 

.. trace 
.. 0-341 

.. trace 
.. trace 


Total per gallon.... 18-434 

Free carbonic acid .... 3*5 cubic inches; 

Nitrogen .504* „ 

This analysis so far differs from that published by Dr. Lyon 
Playfair in the year 1854, as to give a larger proportion of silica, 
a much smaller proportion of sulphate of lime and of chloride of 
potassium, and two grains less of total saline constituents in the 
gallon of water. Inasmuch, however, as Dr. Playfair’s analysis 
was obtained from the residue of 100 gallons of the water, it may 
be probably held to be the more authoritative analysis, so far as 
regards the saline constituents. What is much more interesting 
is, that Dr. Muspratt obtained from the water an appreciable 
proportion of organic matter. This may have an important degree 
of influence on the absorption of the water through the pores of 
the skin during immersion in the baths, and may contribute to or 
produce the remarkable emollient effect on the skin produced by 
the Buxton baths. It is also satisfactory to find the large 
proportion of nitrogen first claimed for this water by Dr. Playfair’s 
analysis confirmed by the analysis of Dr. Muspratt, and that no 
less than 504 cubic inches per gallon are said to have been obtained 
from it. We may know little of the physiological or the medicinal 
action of uncombined nitrogen on the human system when 
administered in any other form than that of the Buxton thermal 
waters? and the degree in which this gas contributes to the 




















PREFACE# 


Vii 


medicinal action may be matter of opinion; but it must be 
gratifying botli to medical men, and to those suffering from 
rheumatism, or gout, or the other disordered conditions, in 
relieving which this water is so useful, to find successive analysts 
confirm the statement that an important elementary substance is 
thus largely and characteristically connected with this mineral 
water : securing for it a position of much chemical interest, and 
removing it far from the category of ordinary spring, river, or rain 
water. 

1 

When it is added, that, in the two years, 1859,1860, the Buxton 
Devonshire Hospital had 1,760 patients under treatment; that its 
100 beds were occupied, and many of the patients were obliged to 
have beds out of the hospital, during many weeks of both years; 
that the cases of 1,577 of the patients were relieved, and of these 
862 were cured or much relieved, only 92 of the patients having 
derived no benefit during their stay; and that the account for drugs 
averaged less than sixteen pence per head, although 205 of the 
patients, or about one-ninth of the whole, were not suffering from 
any of the forms of rheumatism, but were such cases as are ordinarily 
met with in hospitals, and required medical treatment accordingly; 
the value of the Buxton mineral water as a powerful medicinal 
agent, the character of this important charitable institution, and 
the small share that drugs had in producing the beneficial result, will 
need no commentary. On the average of the two years, the patients 
remained under treatment 25 days; and 1,555 cases of rheumatism, 
embracing every conceivable variety of this distressing malady, and 
for the most part cases of severe and obstinate character, for the 
relief of which ordinary medicinal means had been used in vain, 
before these poor people had been sent to Buxton, were, in a time 
comparatively so short, and with so little aid from other means 
than the Buxton water, discharged with results so satisfactory. 

June, 1861, 











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CONTENTS. 

—♦— 

PAGE 

Elevations of the New Ranges of Natural and Hot Baths, at 
Buxton .... .... Frontispiece , <Scc. 

Map of the Peak of Derbyshire, and the surrounding districts, to face 1 
Plan of the Buxton Park, Pleasure-Grounds, &c. . . „ 1 

CHAPTER I. 

HISTORICAL RECORDS OF BUXTON AND ITS BATHS. 

The upland district around Buxton ...... 1 

Ancient wells and baths ..3 

Ancient roads ..7 

Ancient use of the waters ......... 8 

Buxton during the reign of Queen Elizabeth . . . .9 

Visits of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Buxton.9 

Grant by Queen Elizabeth to Fairfield, for the support of a 

chaplain . . . . . . . . . . .11 

Early resort of impotent poor to Buxton . . . . . . 12 

Temporary closing of the baths and wells, by public authority, at 

the Reformation . . . . . . . . .14 

Buxton in the seventeenth century . . . . . . . 16 

Buxton in the eighteenth century.19 

Buxton fifty years since.20 

Buxton in 1854 .......... 23 











Yin 


CONTENTS. 


§ 

CHAPTER II. 

PHYSICAL CHARACTER AND ITINERARY OF BUXTON AND THE PEAK OF 

DERBYSHIRE. 

PAGE 

Elevations of Buxton and the surrounding hills above the level of 
the sea ........... 25 

The valley of Buxton ....... . . 26 

Characteristics of the mountain-limestone formation . . .27 

Results of volcanic action—igneous rocks—toadstone . . . 30 

Limestone fossils.. 34 

The Millstone-Grit formation . . . . . . . . 36 

Fairfield . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

Batham-gate—Marvel-stones—Eildon-hole . . . . . 40 

Dove-holes—the Peak . . . . . . . . .41 

Edale—Mam-Tor—Valley of Hope—Castleton and its caverns . . 42 

Ebbing and flowing well.43 

Course of the river Wye—Ashwood Dale—Sherbrook Dell . . 44 
Chee Tor—Millar’s Dale . . . . . . . .45 

Monsal Dale—Topley Pyke—Taddington . . . . . . 46 

Haddon Hall.47 

Chatsworth House . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Darley Dale—Matlock . . . . . . . .49 

Chelmorton Low—High Wheeldon . . . . . . . 50 

Beresford Dale .......... 51 

Dove Dale ............ 52 

Axe Edge ........... 54 

Lyme Hall . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Crescent and Serpentine walks at Buxton.56 

The Buxton Park and its Roads—Corbar Plantation Walks . . 57 

Various walks around Buxton ....... 58 

Poole’s Hole.63 

Drives in the neighbourhood of Buxton.63 












CONTENTS. 


IX 


Extent and boundaries of the mountain limestone formation . 

Climate of Buxton .. 

The Buxton season.. 

Change of air ...... .... 


PAGE 
. 68 

. 70 
. 79 
. 83 


CHAPTER III. 

ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE THERMAL SPRINGS OF 

BUXTON. 

Origin of the waters which supply the Buxton Tepid Springs . . 87 

Cause of the heat of the Buxton Tepid Waters . . . .93 

Connection of the heat of waters with volcanic action . . . 101 


CHAPTER IV. 

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF THE BUXTON TEPID WATERS; THE SUC¬ 
CESSIVE analyses, and their results ; and commentary 
on their composition, in reference to their medicinal 


EFFECTS. 

Blue tinge of the Buxton Tepid Waters.104 

Brilliancy of the waters.105 

Buoyancy of the waters in the baths.106 

Shock and reaction from the use of the baths.106 

Stimulating effect of the baths.107 

The water fever. .......... 109 

Secondary effect of the baths.- .109 

History of successive analyses of the waters.Ill 


Examination of the waters by Dr. Jones, a.d. 1572, and his infer¬ 
ences as to their chemical constitution . . . . .112 

Dr. Lister and Dr. Leigh on the effects and composition of the 
waters.113 

Dr. Short (a.d. 1733) on the gaseous and saline constituents of the 

waters, and the medicinal effects . . f . . .114 








X 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Dr. Hunter (a.d. 1765) and Dr. Percival on the saline constituents 

of the waters.116 

Dr. Higgins’ analysis (a.d. 1782) . . . . . • .117 

Dr. Pearson’s medical and chemical observations and experiments 

(a.d. 1784), and his discovery of the nitrogen in the waters . 117 

Analysis of the waters by Sir Charles Scudamore and Mr. Garden 

(a.d. 1819) . 120 

Dr. Lyon Playfair’s analysis and report (a.d. 1852) . . . 122 

Inferences from the results of Dr. Playfair’s analysis—Uses and 

importance of nitrogen.127 

Quotations from Baron Liebig, respecting the agencies and com¬ 
binations of nitrogen . . . . . . . .128 

Quotation from "Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal,” 

Ho. 193, on the medicinal action to be ascribed to nitrogen . 131 

Dr. Sutro on the physiological and medicinal offices of nitrogen . 132 

On the saline constituents of the Buxton tepid waters . .135 

On the gaseous constituents.137 

Critical consideration of an ammoniacal hypothesis as to the 

action of the tepid waters.141 


CHAPTER V. 


ASCERTAINED ELEVATIONS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.— 
THE NEW RANGES OF BATHS.—AMOUNT OF FLOW OF THE TEPID 
SPRINGS.—THE WELLS, BATHS, AND DOUCHES. 


Elevations of different places in and near Buxton 
Interesting application of the aneroid barometer 
The Buxton Crescent. 

The Square—the new ranges of Baths . 

Range of natural baths. 

Range of hot baths. 

St. Anne’s and Chalybeate wells 
Amount of flow of the tepid waters 


. 144 
. 145 
. 147 

. 148 
. 149 

. 150 
. 151 
. 152 





CONTENTS. 


XI 


PAGE 

Depth of the water in the natural baths, and its importance to 
exercise, friction, absorption of the waters, and their medicinal 

effect.154 

The douches, their use, and mode of action.156 

Dimensions, &c., of the natural baths.160 

Effects of the hot baths of the Buxton waters . . . . 162 

Usefulness of the new swimming baths of the heated waters . 165 
Arrangement and dimensions of the hot baths . . . . 168 

The cold swimming bath.170 

Ground plans of the baths and wells.172 


CHAPTER VI. 

PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND ALTERATIVE EFFECTS OF THE BUXTON 
TEPID WATERS.—MORBID CONDITIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF WHICH 
THEY ARE USEFUL.—CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH CONTRA-INDICATE 
THEIR USE.—RULES FOR THE USE OF THE BATHS, AND FOR 
DRINKING THE TEPID WATERS. 

Primary effects of the baths . . . . . . . .174 

Secondary effects of the baths . . . . . . . 176 

Alterative effects of the baths . . . . . . .177 

Diseases to the relief of which the use of the baths is applicable . 179 
Morbid conditions which contra-indicate the use of the baths . .180 

Rules for using the baths . . . . . . . .181 

Rules for drinking the tepid waters . . . . . . 186 

CHAPTER VII. 

ANALYSIS, CHARACTER, AND USES OF THE CHALYBEATE WATER 

OF BUXTON. 

Origin and character of the chalybeate water . . . .190 

Dr. Playfair’s analysis of the water .191 

Medicinal effect of the chalybeate water . . . . .191 

Rules and suggestions for the internal and external use of the 

chalybeate water.192 








Xll 


CONTENTS. 


S 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE GRITSTONE WATER.—AMOUNT AND CHARACTER OF ITS SUPPL 
FOR DOMESTIC AND ORDINARY PURPOSES AT BUXTON. 

PAGE 

Relative purity, character, and properties of calcareous and 

gritstone waters . . . . . . . . .194 

Dr. Playfair’s report on the gritstone water supplied to Buxton . 195 


CHAPTER IX. 

HISTORY, PROGRESS, POSITION, AND USEFULNESS OF THE BUXTON 

BATH CHARITY. 

Probable antiquity of the Institution . . . . . . 197 

Summary of the results obtained by means of its operations since 

the year 1820 .. 200 

Abstract of annual report, rules for admission of patients, &c. . 202 

APPENDIX. 

Catalogue of plants which grow in the neighbourhood of Buxton, 
with a botanical commentary, by Miss Hawkins . . . 205 

DIRECTORY, &c. 

Distances, routes, nearest railway stations, coaches, horses and 

carriages for hire, list of hotels, inns, and lodging-houses. . 223 




GUIDE MAP 


JBTJXTON 


AND 


THE ORDNANCE SURVEY 




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pAWfON HWAILSF&HO ir "*“ 







































































































































A HAND-BOOK 


TO 

THE PEAK OF DERBYSHIRE, 

AND TO THE USE OE THE BUXTON MINERAL 

WATERS. 


CHAPTER I. 

- ♦ - 

HISTORICAL RECORDS OF BUXTON AND ITS BATIIS. 

“ Buxton is situated on the western side of the north 
part of the county of Derby, in a tract of elevated, uneven, 
and hilly moorland , called, therefore, the High Peake, or the 
Pealce Hundred. 

“ The Peake is about fourteen or sixteen miles broad from 
the south-west to the north-east side; its whole length, 
from the north-west to the south-east, may be twenty 
miles; and it is supposed to contain one-fourth part of the 
whole county, or 170,000 acres. 

“ This region of high land is the southern extremity of 
the ridge or chain of mountains and hills, that extends from 
the Cheviot hills in Scotland, nearly through the middle of 
the island, and terminates in the north part of Derbyshire. 


B 






THE PEAK OF DERBYSHIRE. 


O 


/Srf 


As this range of eminent land runs through the middle of 
the north of England, as the Apennine does through Italy, 
it has been called the English Apennine. 

“ The British Apennine may be reckoned, for the sake of 
forming a general conception of it, from fifteen to twenty 
miles broad. Near Scotland it is much broader, and as the 
island to the north of Derbyshire contracts itself con¬ 
siderably in breadth, this tract of high land bears no small 
proportion to the breadth of the north part of England. 

“ The whole length of this ridge of land appears to be 
about a hundred and forty miles.” 

The above is a quotation from a large work, in two octavo 
volumes, by Dr. Pearson, an eminent physician and chemist 
of the time, and published in 1784. But the upland coun¬ 
try on which Buxton is situated, must have much larger 
dimensions assigned to it. From Ashbourne on the south, 
at a distance of twenty miles, to beyond Glossop on the 
north, Buxton being placed almost centrally in reference to 
these boundaries, the hill country rises from the lower 
districts of Derbyshire and Staffordshire on the one side, 
and of Lancashire and Cheshire on the other. Arising 
again from Staffordshire and Cheshire on the west, to the 
east of the towns of Leek, Congleton, and Macclesfield, at a 
distance of about twelve miles from Buxton, the upland 
country extends eastward into Yorkshire, stretching at length 
into Scotland. The upland district, which is virtually the Peak 
district, and almost in the centre of which Buxton is placed, 
may be said to have a diameter of between thirty and forty 



HISTORY OF THE BUXTON BATHS. 


3 


miles, in all directions. Presenting a varying elevation, 
from a few hundreds to nearly two thousand feet higher 
than the level of the sea,—and nearly the whole of this great 
surface of country being divided, and almost in equal pro¬ 
portions, between the formation of millstone grit and that 
of secondary limestone,—the scenery is characterised by large 
outlines, massive boldness, and great variety ; the mountain 
masses, sloping hill-sides, broad basin-like valleys, and moor¬ 
land summits of the gritstone, contrasting with and varying 
the more abrupt and fantastic grandeur, the summits of 
bare and rugged rock, the sharp outlines, and the narrow and 
rocky valleys of the mountain limestone. Overlooking the 
lower districts around it, in all directions ; and offering 
numberless pictures of more confined character in its own 
valleys, shut in by its own hills,—many of these scenes, 
however, having an extent of many miles ; this great 
upland region is deservedly considered to be one of the 
most picturesque and beautiful districts in Great Britain. 

According to the statement of Messrs. Lysons, in their 
History of Derbyshire, the word Buxton was written 
Bawkestanes, in the time of King Henry the Third; and 
they add, “it seems probable that it was originally written 
Badestanes , deriving the name from its stone baths.” 

Dr. Short, in his “History of Mineral Waters,” pre¬ 
sented and dedicated to the Koyal Society, and published in 
1734, states that, “without all dispute,” the Buxton baths 
must have been well known to the Homans. It seems that, 
in 1709, Sir Thomas Delves, of Cheshire, in memory of 


4 ANCIENT WELLS AND BATHS AT BUXTON. 

Laving been cured by these waters, caused an arch to be 
erected over one of the springs, “ twelve feet long and 
twelve feet broad, set round with stone seats on the 
inside;” and “in the middle of this dome, the water 
sprung up in a stone basin, two feet square above.” In 
preparing the site for this erection, which in its turn had to 
be removed, when extensive buildings were erected in 
17S0—1784, “an ancient Homan brick wall about St. 
Anne’s well” had to be removed. “In 1698, when Mr. 
White, then of Buxton Hall, was driving up a level to the 
Bath , fifty yards east of St. Anne’s well, and fourteen yards 
north of Bingham spring, the workmen found, buried under 
the grass and corn-mould, sheets of lead, spread upon great 
beams of timber, about four yards square, with broken 
ledges round about, which had been a leaden cistern, and 
not unlikely that of the Homans, or some other ancient 
bath, which had been supplied with water from Bingham 
well. Thirdly, the Homan highway from Burgh (Brough), a 
small village twelve miles east, to Buxton, a great part 
whereof remains entire to this day, reaches within half 
a mile of Buxton-Ilall; and not improbably it took a turn 
from Burgh to Castleton, two miles north-west; for above 
this, on the top of Maniton, is remaining a very beautiful 
and strong camp. All for two miles below, is a fortified 
station four square, the town a garrison, and the castle 
above it a fort, armoury, or watch-tower, to answer the 
camp. Fourthly, that it was of great repute in the darkest 
distant times is undeniable, from the chapel here dedicated 


ANCIENT WELLS AND BATHS AT BUXTON. 


5 


to St. Anne, whose foundation was likewise discovered, and 
a large piece of its wall dug up in driving the aforesaid 
level.” 

Dr. Leigh, who seems to have died about 1671, and who 
was one of the numerous writers on the subject of the 
Buxton waters, says, that, in his time, a wall was to be seen 
near St. Anne’s well, which he believes to have been of 
Homan erection. He describes it as cemented with plaster, 
red and hard as brick, but very different from anything at 
that time in common use, having more the resemblance of 
some kind of tile than of any other substance. The ruins 
of an ancient bath, too, he says, were then visible, com¬ 
posed of matters similar to the wall, and so perfect in every 
part as to present to an observer every one of its dimen¬ 
sions. Mr. Pilkington, in a work published in 1781, 
observes, that “ when the foundations of the crescent were 
dug, the shape and dimensions of this bath (speaking of one 
mentioned in Bishop Gibson’s edition of Camden’s Britannia, 
as visible near St. Anne’s well) might be very easily 
discerned. Its form was that of an oblong square: it 
measured thirty feet from east to west, and fifteen feet from 
north to south. The spring was at the west end of the 
bath; and at the east end there had evidently been a flood¬ 
gate for letting out the water. The wall was built of lime¬ 
stone, and appeared to be of rude workmanship. On the 
outside, it was covered with a strong cement; supposed to 
have been for the purpose of preventing cold water from 
mixing with the warm spring supplying the bath. The 


6 


ANCIENT WELLS AND BATHS AT BUXTON. 


floor was formed of plaster, and appeared to have been 
uninjured by time. On the top of the walls were laid strong 
oak beams, which were firmly connected together at the 
four corners; and the bath had the appearance of having 
been exposed to the air.” 

Dr. Jones, who published a work entitled “The Benefit 
of the Ancient Bathes of Buckstones,” in 1572, says, 
“ Joyning to the chief spring, between the river and the 
bath, is a very goodly house, four-square, four stories high, 
so well compact with houses and offices underneath, and 
above, and round about, with a great chamber, and other 
goodly lodgings to the number of thirty, that it is and will 
be a beauty to behold, and very notable for the right 
honourable and worshipful that shall need to repair thither, 
as also for others, yea, and the poor shall have lodgings and 
beds hard by for their uses only. The baths also are bravely 
beautified with seats round about, and defended from the 
ambient air, and chimneys for fire to air your garments, in 
the bath side, and other necessaries most decent. And 
truly, I suppose, that if it were for the sick a sanctuary 
during their abode there, for all causes saving sacrilege, 
treason, murther, burglary, and robbing by the highway- 
side, with also a license for the sick to eat flesh at all times, 
and a Friday market weekly, and two fairs yearly, it should 
be to the posterities not only commodious, but also to the 
Prince great renown and gain.” 

Such are some, out of many, of the curious and not un¬ 
interesting accounts of Buxton, in its more ancient days. 


ANCIENT ROADS AT BUXTON. 


7 


There seems to be every probability, that at least two of the 
great ancient roads met at Buxton. One of these has 
already been noticed, in the quotation from Dr. Short’s im¬ 
portant work; the part of which between Brough, or Burgh, a 
Roman station near Hope, and Buxton, was traced by Mr. 
Pegge, in the year 1779. This road seems to have extended 
from Middlewich, Congleton, Buxton, and Brough, to 
York and Aldborough. The part between Buxton and 
Brough is still called Batham-gate. Another of these great 
roads, extended from Manchester to Buxton, and thence 
southward, under the names, in different parts, of High 
Street, Street-Fields, Street-Lane, Old-gate, &c. The parts of 
this road which are still noticeable, extend from Bollington, 
about thirteen miles from Buxton, cross the higher grounds 
by Pym’s Chair, and descend thence to the valley of the 
G-oyt, being continued as far as Goyt’s bridge, within three 
miles from Buxton. The road may have been continued up 
the valley, by the side of the river Goyt, to Goyt’s Clough; 
or, more probably, was carried across the river, and up the 
opposite hill-side, near to, or on the site of, the existing 
Goyt’s lane. Immediately to the south of Buxton, this road 
is again noticeable, near to Coteheath, close to the high road 
to Ashbourne,—and again, about five miles from Buxton, 
near to the Duke of York, public-house, on the left hand 
side of the same road. Whether these roads were originally 
constructed exclusively for military purposes,—for effecting 
the conquest, or more complete subjugation, of the people of 
the country; or whether they may have only been the means 


8 


ANCIENT USE OF BUXTON WATERS. 


of communication between important places; it seems to be 
evident that they would bring into notice, if they were not 
constructed for the convenience of, the places through which 
they might pass; and the Buxton waters, with their 
elevated temperature, large flow, and medicinal value, 
would acquire repute at very remote periods of time. That, 
at periods so remote from our own, large baths should have 
been constructed, of such a durable and costly character as 
a frame-work of wooden beams lined with lead, in one 
instance,—and, in another, of masonry, floored with concrete, 
and most carefully protected outside with thick and strong 
cement (even although these structures may have been 
uncovered and exposed to the open air), cannot fail to 
astonish us. Now that modern roads and modern railways 
have served to bring distant places so much more within 
reach of one another, the Peak of Derbyshire is still 
sometimes thought to be too remote from the southern parts 
of England; and it may well be thought wonderful, that 
sufficient numbers of people should have made the pilgri¬ 
mage to Buxton, in those early times, in search of health 
from the use of its waters, to have led to the formation of 
such baths as these. Even now, in the baths which have 
just been re-constructed, and so much extended, the largest 
of them is twenty-six feet long and eighteen feet wide; 
and we find the measurement of one of these old baths, 
probably the work of the Eomans, to have been thirty-feet 
long by fifteen feet wide. The bath of lead and oak seems 
to have been of older date than this, and at least twelve feet 


BUXTON TEMP. QUEEN ELIZABETH. 


9 


square; and either will tell a tale full of import, as to the 
enterprising spirit of a time so distant from our own, as to 
the estimation in which the Buxton waters were then held, 
and as to the still more ancient period at which they must 
have begun to be famous for their medicinal qualities. 

In the midst of all this activity of hand, and skilled 
labour, there was no printing-press, and there were few 
scribes ; the affairs of remote provinces had no historians; 
traditions and public report were the histories and news¬ 
papers of the age; and but for accidental discoveries of 
such magnitude, the ancient use of the Buxton waters, and 
their ancient fame, would have been unknown to us. And, 
even down to the age of Queen Elizabeth, there is no 
history of Buxton, nor account of its waters; although the 
reputation of their curative efficacy had become so con¬ 
siderable, that the accommodations of the place were no 
longer equal to the wants and demands of the people 
resorting to it; and a large building was in consequence 
erected by the Earl of Shrewsbury, at that time the 
principal proprietor of Buxton and the estates adjoining. 
This building, so quaintly described by Dr. Jones in the 
quotation already given, must have been regarded as a fine 
and imposing edifice, even in that less ancient time. It 
supplied accommodation to some of the principal per¬ 
sonages of that age, who visited Buxton for the use of its 
waters. 

Marv, Queen of Scotland, visited Buxton at least four 

different times, while in the custody of the Earl of 

e 3 




10 


BUXTON TEMP. QUEEN ELIZABETH. 


Shrewsbury. These visits must have occurred between 
the years 1570 and 1583, inclusive. There is a curious 
account of the circumstances leading to and connected 
with these visits, in Lodge’s “ Illustrations of British 
History.” From this authority we likewise learn, that 
the Buxton waters were used for the relief of their ail- 
ments, by two of the greatest men of those times, viz, the 
Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh. Miss Strickland’s 
edition of the “ Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, and 
Documents connected with her Personal History,” may 
also be referred to. One of the visits of the great Lord 
Burleigh is noticed in one of these letters. This visit took 
place at the time when Queen Elizabeth was sojourning at 
Kenilworth. In a letter, dated, Buxton, August 10th, 
1579, the Queen mentions the benefit which she had 
derived from the use of the baths, in relieving a severe pain 
of the side. The Queen’s last visit to Buxton seems to 
have been in the year 1583. When the statements con¬ 
tained in these letters are considered, as to the condition of 
the places in w r hich the poor Queen was confined,—the 
extremely damp state of the grounds, and buildings, and 
even of the apartments at Tutbury, which this royal lady 
was made to occupy, affording even an. inadequate shelter 
from the weather, — it seems to be probable that her 
ailments were of rheumatic character ; and for the relief of 
such, the use of the baths and waters of Buxton would 
be of no mean value. 

The Queen is said to have scratched on a pane of glass, 


BUXTON TEMP. QUEEN ELIZABETH. 


11 


in a window of the room she occupied, the following 
classical and kindly farewell:— 

Buxtona, quae calidse celebrabere nomine lymphse, 

Forte mihi posthac non adeunda, vale ! 

It is stated, in Camden’s Britannia, that this distich is an 
adaptation to Buxton, of Caesar’s verses upon Eeltria. The 
relief afforded to Queen Mary’s case, appears to have 
induced both Lord Burleigh and the Duke of Sussex to 
resort to Buxton, for the cure of their ailments. As Lord 
Burleigh visited Buxton at least twice, viz., in the years 
1577 and 1580, it seems to be a justifiable inference, that 
the baths were of use to him. The visit of the Duke of 
Sussex is mentioned as having occurred in July, 1580. 

It is difficult to realise the various circumstances and 
position of times so remote as even those of Queen Elizabeth, 
and to picture the condition of Buxton, and of the inhabi¬ 
tants of the town and the adjoining hamlets, in those days. 
There is, in the Chapel of the Bolls, the original record of 
“ A Grant to Thomas Dakyn and the inhabitants of the 
Chapelry of Eairfield,” dated the thirty-seventh of Queen 
Elizabeth (a. d. 1595), which illustrates curiously the state 
of Buxton at that time, and contrasts very much with what 
obtains at present. Eairfield is a pretty village and chapelry 
adjoining to Buxton; and, it is, in the present day, much 
indebted to its close proximity to Buxton for an enhanced 
value of its land, and as affording a ready sale for its agri¬ 
cultural produce ; the village, moreover, being advantaged 




u 


EARLY RESORT OF IMPOTENT POOR. 


by affording lodgings to some of the visitors of Buxton. In 
those days, however, the people of Fairfield appear to have 
suffered more from the poor frequenters of Buxton, than 
they gained, either directly or indirectly, from being so near 
to a place of such resort; and, accordingly, the inhabitants 
humbly supplicated the Queen for a grant to support a 
“ minister or chaplain,” pleading in the supplication, among 
other weighty reasons justifying the royal bounty, that “ the 
Inhabitants aforesaid had fallen into extreme poverty,” 
stating that the said poverty was in part “ by reason of the 
frequent access of divers poor, sick, and impotent persons 
repairing to the Fountain of Buxton, in the county aforesaid, 
within the neighbourhood of the Chapel aforesaid, for whose 
maintenance and relief the Inhabitants aforesaid are daily 
charitably moved to apply their own goods, by which the 
aforesaid inhabitants of the Chapelry aforesaid are not only 
rendered unable to sustain and maintain the Minister or 
Chaplain aforesaid, but also, by reason of their poverty, the 
aforesaid Chapel has fallen into great ruin and decay, and 
thus the inhabitants aforesaid will be altogether deprived of 
all Divine Service and Spiritual Instruction, unless a speedy 
remedy, in this behalf, shall be provided by us, wherefore 
they have humbly supplicated us, that we (being piously 
inclined) should be pleased to found and establish, within 
the town of Fairfield aforesaid, one perpetual Chapel, for 
our minister or chaplain to celebrate divine service there, 
for all the inhabitants, within the chapelry of Fairfield 
aforesaid, for ever to remain.” I am indebted for this 





EARLY RESORT OF IMPOTENT POOR. 


10 


interesting reference to the kindness of the late Mr. 
Goodwin, of Pigtor; and it furnishes a curious picture of 
the times; illustrating the difficulties with which poverty 
and disease must have had to contend in so much greater a 
degree, when the means of travelling from remote distances 
must have been most tedious and expensive, and when the 
journey of a poor sick person to Buxton must indeed have 
been a difficult and severe undertaking. It shows, however, 
how much the use of these waters must have been valued 
even at that remote period, when such difficulties and severe 
privations had not so checked the visits or kept down the 
numbers of these poor seekers after health, but that they 
should have proved to be so great a tax and burthen to the 
inhabitants of surrounding hamlets. The poorest can now 
find means of transport; and the visit to Buxton is never, 
in these days, the weary and trying pilgrimage which it 
must have been to poor sufferers in the days of Queen 
Elizabeth. Two years after the grant above-mentioned, in 
the thirty-ninth year of the Queen’s reign, perhaps in 
consequence of the supplication from the people of Eairfield, 
perhaps from increasing resort to Buxton, and further 
supplications, it was enacted, “ that none resorting to Bath 
or Buxton Wells should beg, hut should have relief from 
their Parishes, and a pass under the hands of two Justices of 
the Peace, fixing the time of their return, nor were they to 
beg there under pain of incurring the penalties of that act.” 

Previous to the period of the Reformation, the medicinal 
effects of the Buxton waters had been ascribed to the 


]4 BUXTON TEMP. THE REFORMATION. 

saintly influence of their great patroness, St. Anne ; and 
the walls of a chapel that was dedicated to her, had been 
decorated, from time immemorial, with the crutches of those 
cripples who had been cured by the use of these baths, and 
who no longer required them. In the earlier years of the 
reformed religion, Buxton was made to suffer on account of 
the superstitious errors of its earlier patrons. Conceived to 
aid in keeping up a belief in the Bomish doctrine of saintly 
interference in human affairs, these interesting memorials 
of gratitude for restored health were destroyed ; and indeed 
so bigoted had the national feeling, or rather perhaps the 
feeling of the dominant party, become, against everything 
connected with the unpopular faith, that the waters were 
for a short time prevented from being used, by public 
authority. The following document in regard to this, is too 
curious to be omitted. It is addressed to Lord Cromwell 
by one of the agents emplo} r ed by him, for the suppression 
of all establishments connected with the Bomish faith:— 

“ Bight Honourable and my inespecial Good Lord, 

“ According to my bounden duty, and the tenor of your 
Lordship’s letters lately to me directed, I have sent your 
Lordship by this bearer, my brother, Francis Bassett, the 
images of St. Anne of Buckston, and Saint Andrew of 
Burton-up on-Trent; which images I did take from the 
places where they did stand, and brought them to my house 
within forty-eight hours after the contemplation of your said 


BUXTON TEMP. THE REFORMATION. 


15 


Lordship’s letters, in as sober a manner as my little and 
rude will w r ould serve me. And for that there should be no 
more idolatry and superstition there used, I did not only 
deface the tabernacles and places where they did stand, but 
also did take away crutches, shirts, and shifts, with wax 
offered, being things that allure and intice the ignorant to 
the said offering; also giving the keepers of both places 
orders that no more offerings should be made in those places 
till the King’s pleasure and your Lordship’s be further 
known in that behalf. 

“ My Lord, I have locked up and sealed the baths and 
wells of Buckston, that none shall enter to wash there till 
your Lordship’s pleasure be further known. Whereof I 
beseech your good Lordship that I may be ascertained again 
at your pleasure, and I shall not fail to execute your 
Lordship’s commandments to the utmost of my little wdt 
and power. And, my Lord, as touching the opinion of the 
people, .and the fond trust they did put in those images and 
the vanity of the things, this bearer can tell your Lordship 
better at large than I can write; for he was with me at the 
doing of all this, and in all places, as knoweth good Jesus, 
whom ever have your Lordship in his precious keeping. 

“ Written at Langley, with the rude and simple hand of 
your assured and faithful orator, and as one and ever at 
your commandment, next unto the King’s, to the uttermost 
of his little power. 

“WILLIAM BASSETT, Knight.” 


“To Lord Cromwell.” 




BUXTON IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 


16 


The shutting up of the baths and wells would not 
appear to have been long enforced, nor the reputation 
of the waters to have been much influenced by these 
arbitrary and prejudiced proceedings. In truth, tfte cures 
which had been effected, during so many ages, could 
not be so set aside and ignored; and, as they were no 
longer to be considered as being attributable to saintly 
influence, they began to be ascribed to the properties of the 
waters themselves. 

The Hall, “ at that time reckoned a fine mansion,”—“ a 
very goodly house, four-square, four stories high,”—and 
which appears to have been well frequented, was destroyed 
about the year 1670, “ and a new edifice erected on its site 
by William, the third Earl of Devonshire.” This mansion, 
with many alterations and very considerable additions, is 
still a principal hotel in Buxton, and still called the Hall. 
Speaking of this building and its surroundings, Dr. Short, 
writing sixty years after the time of its erection, 
says,—“Buxton Hall is situated on the south brink 
of the rivulet Wye or We, from the union of three 
springs, a short mile west of the house, called I, 
Thou, He, which being united obtain the plural We. 
On the north side of the river is a steep mountain, 
covered chiefly with heath, under which is a black.moss or 
peat earth, below that a shale, then clay and coal, and lead 
in some places. The surface here is very barren, and 
therefore return we to the south side, which, for about two 
miles, is a mountain of an easy ascent. The ground all 


BUXTON IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 


IT 


about the warm springs, on the south side of the river, is 
very dry, fruitful, and pleasant, being a thin, warm, fertile 
mould, lying upon limestone ; the grass, though short, is 
very sweet and fattening, hence they have the most delicious 
beef and mutton. Snow lies a much shorter time here than 
in the lower country.(?) Here is good store of hares and 
foxes, several wild rabbits of the rocks, partridges, moor 
game of two sorts, one a large black-cock weighing five 
pounds a piece, the other a brown and much less, tho’ more 
plentiful. The small river which runs from west to east 
abounds with fine trout, grellin (grayling), crayfish, and 
silver eels. A little east of St. Anne’s well, over the ditch or 
level which carries the warm water from the bath, is made a 
curious natural hot-bed, and upon the rest of this canal 
might be made the finest greenhouse in the 'northern 
kingdoms ; Mr. Taylor, of the Hall, has also taken in several 
new gardens with planting, and several curious walks. The 
garden-stuff has a peculiar, grateful flavour. Up one pair of 
stairs in the Hall is a beautiful dining room, seventeen yards 
long, and nineteen feet wide, seven other entertaining 
rooms, eleven lodging rooms with single beds and closets, 
twenty-nine other lodging rooms ; this one house affords sixty 
beds for gentlemen and ladies, besides suitable accommoda¬ 
tions for their servants, and all other proper or useful offices.” 

In the front of the Hall was “ a pleasant warm bowling- 
green, planted about with large sycamore trees;” and on the 
north side of the green was a grove of trees, which extended 
on the north side of the Hall, and on the south bank of the 









18 


BUXTON IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 


river, sheltering the bowling-green, the Hall itself, and the 
wells and baths, from the northerly winds. St. Anne’s well 
was situated on the east of the great bath, and very near to 
it; as nearly as might be, on the spot where the new St. Anne’s 
drinking well has now been erected; and therefore some 
yards to the west of the well recently removed, which 
was situated at the foot of the terrace walks of St. Anne’s 
cliff, opposite the Crescent. Close to the river and the 
grove of stately trees, at the back of the Hall, probably 
near to the site of the western end of the Crescent, were the 
gardens, which appear to have been at one time so well 
managed and productive ; and beyond, and to the south 
and south-east of these gardens, the valley was divided 
into closes or small fields, in which the different wells 
were situated. In a w r ork published in the year 1646, 
entitled “ A Prospect of the most famous parts of the 
world,” under the head “ Harbyshire,” is the following : 
—“Things of stranger note are the hot-water springs, 
bursting forth of the ground at Buxton, where out of the 
rocke, within the compasse of eight yards, nine springs arise, 
eight of them warm, but the ninth very cold.” The street 
called the Spring-Gardens, evidently obtains its name from 
the gardens of the Hall, which w r ere so famous in the time 
of Hr. Short. 

Mr. Macaulay, in the first volume of his “ History of 
England,” (page 345), says:—“England, however, was not, 
in the seventeenth century, destitute of watering places. 
The gentry of Derbyshire and of the neighbouring counties 




BUXTON IN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 


19 


repaired to Buxton, where they were crowded into low 
w T ooden sheds, and regaled with oatcake, and with a viand 
which the hosts called mutton, but which the guests strongly 
suspected to be dog.” Mr. Macaulay gives as his authority 
for this statement, a “ Tour in Derbyshire, by Thomas 
Browne, son of Sir Thomas.” It has been seen, however, 
that, from a much earlier time than that mentioned by Mr. 
Macaulay, Buxton was not only a watering-place of much 
importance and resort, but that its principal hotel was a large 
and commodious house, supplied with all the comforts and 
requirements that were then to be obtained anywhere ; and 
indeed, that during at least three centuries before the period 
at which Buxton is thus stigmatised, the wants and expecta¬ 
tions of the public had been provided for in the fullest 
manner, by an amount and excellence of house-accommoda¬ 
tion, and bathing-accommodation, that must have been con¬ 
siderably in advance of most other places of the same kind. 
The excellence of the mutton, so vaunted by Dr. Short, and 
so well-known in our own times, gives to the stigma a still 
more marked ironical character. 

In the year 1780, according to Mr. Bray, the foundations 
of the great pile of building were laid, called from its form 
the Crescent; the architect having been the celebrated 
Mr. Carr, of York. This beautiful structure, which was 
finished in 1784, is still the finest crescent-shaped elevation 
in England, and probably in Europe ; and affords extensive 
accommodation to a large number of visitors. 

By the erection of this building, all the immediate 




20 


BUXTON FIFTY YEARS SINCE. 


localities of the river, baths, wells, roads, &c., were 
much altered. The high-road from Manchester, which 
seems to have passed near to the Hall previously, was 
turned, and made to pass at the back of the large new pile 
of buildings. The greater part of the grove or avenue of 
trees was cut down; those only being left which surrounded 
the bowling-green of the Hall, and protected this piece of 
ground on the north, most of which probably still remain. 
The river was enarched the whole way from the Hall to 
some distance beyond the eastern end of the Crescent; and 
the space occupied by this arch, by the large part of the 
avenue of trees that had been cut down, and by some of the 
springs which had emerged near to the south bank of the 
river, and by the closes of land on the river side, between 
the river and a rocky mound called St. Anne’s Cliff, was 
occupied by new buildings, forming the Crescent and the 
Square. And, in course of time, the rocky bank, or 
rounded and considerable eminence, fronting the Crescent, 
and said to have been a most unsightly-looking foreground 
to so palatial a structure, was forced into form and useful¬ 
ness by the taste and skill of Sir Jeffery Wyatville, and 
formed into raAges of terrace 'walks, with intervening grass 
banks, adorned with vases, of form, and style, and size, to 
correspond w r ith the Crescent; the w^hole being made into a 
foreground of pleasing and ornamental character. 

Gradually,—in addition to the piles of building formed by 
the Crescent, the Hall, the Square,—a row of houses on the 
west side of St. Anne’s Cliff, called the Hall Bank,—an inn, 


BUXTON FIFTY YEARS SINCE. 


21 


the George,—and another inn, the Grove; in addition to a 
church, built at much cost by the Duke of Devonshire, the 
noble owner of the baths and adjacent property; in addition 
to a large range of building, erected on the risiug ground 
on the north, and at the back of the Crescent, for stables 
and coach-houses, &c.; a street came to be formed on the 
south bank of the river, beyond the euarchment of the 
stream which is covered by the Crescent. All these 
buildings, however, with no exception of any importance 
but the Hall, are comparatively modern. Buxton, more 
strictly so called, distinguished now-a-days from the part of 
the town above-mentioned, which is called Lower Buxton, 
by being called Upper Buxton,—this, the old town of 
Buxton, is on a level with the summit of St. Anue’s Cliff, 
and has an elevation of upwards of seventy feet above the 
lower and more modern part of the town. Higher Buxton, 
or Upper Buxton, contains a much older and smaller 
church, dissenting chhpels, a spacious market-place, the 
Eagle inn (a large house which has been long in repute), 
and many smaller inns, and a great number of lodging- 
houses. 

But for a long time after the Crescent had been built, 
and after many other additions and improvements had 
been made, to meet the wants of those resorting to it, 
chiefly for the use of the baths, Buxton had to contend 
with many local disadvantages. The town had been situated 
in the midst of a bare and barren tract of country; there 
was hardly a tree within miles of it, unless at the bottoms 












22 


BUXTON FIFTY YEARS SINCE. 


of the more important valleys; the land was, for the most 
part, unenclosed, uncultivated, and unsheltered from the 
winds; and the whole district must have looked wild, 
dreary, and inhospitable. Even within the memory of old 
inhabitants, there was neither cultivation nor enclosure 
within twelve miles, in the direction towards Ashbourne, 
unless in rare and isolated patches; and nearly the whole 
of the valley of Buxton, on the south-west and west of the 
town, and within a stone’s throw of the old bowling-green 
and new church, was untouched moorland. And yet, 
induced by the great and well-deserved reputation of its 
healing waters, the invalided from all parts had been 
content to visit and sojourn in this region of wild and 
barren, if picturesque and mountainous beauty; and so 
great were the benefits derived, that, without most of the 
usual supplementary watering-place attractions, the Buxton 
waters supported and added to their celebrity. 

At length it was found, between forty and fifty years 
ago, that, in this mountainous and large featured district,— 
which, in the ancient times, had been well timbered, and 
formed part of the great midland forest of England,—trees 
would grow, if they were planted. It had been thought, not¬ 
withstanding the fine old hawthorn trees to be seen placed 
here and there, in all sorts of situations, elevations, and 
exposures, in different parts of the district, that the haw¬ 
thorn would not thrive in the locality; and therefore that 
hedgerows could not be substituted for stone walls, as 
fences for the fields. Many hundreds of acres have been 


BUXTON IN 1854. 


23 


planted from that time to this; and accordingly, although 
such a country as this ought always to he characterised by 
the bold and massive grandeur of its scenery, it no longer 
conveys a sense of bleak desolation, which it must have 
done half a century ago; and the country around Buxton is 
now universally allowed to be beautiful. That Buxton 
should have been yearly resorted to, by thousands of 
invalids, under such disadvantageous circumstances, may be 
accepted in confirmation of the power of its waters, in 
relieving and curing disease. 

But, however great and praiseworthy the efforts which had 
been made, to render the town and district more and more 
worthy of the resort of the invalided, much had still been 
left undone. A larger and larger amount of house-accommo¬ 
dation had indeed been afforded from time to time, but still 
much below the w r ants of the public; additional baths had 
been made at distant intervals, but even this essential 
requirement was not adequately provided for; public walks 
and pleasure-grounds had been laid out and planted, with 
a princely liberality, for the use of the inhabitants and 
visitors; but the march of taste and science, in regard to 
embellishment and drainage, had to be kept pace with. Such 
extensions, additions, and improvements have now been 
made; and with a success that is universally admitted to 
have been entire. The state of Buxton now, with its noble 
and extensive ranges of baths, supplied with all the acces¬ 
sories which art and ingenuity and science can furnish,— 
with its many and various pleasure-grounds, and promenades, 



24 


BUXTON IN 1854 . 


and plantation-walks, and ornamental shrubberies, some of 
them being immediately contiguous to the principal build¬ 
ings, all within easy access, and all thrown open freely and 
gratuitously to the public,—with its park of more than a 
hundred acres, laid out and planted for ornamental and 
building ground, from plans by Sir Joseph Paxton,—with 
its surrounding hills, clothed with plantations of thriving 
trees, wherever plantations are desirable, either for the 
purpose of shelter, or of beauty,—w T ith its dry soil, and 
tempered mountain air, and mountain climate,—this, the 
Buxton of the year 1854, ought to be thu3 compared 
with the place as it was, even thirty or forty years ago, 
with the place as it was in the year 1838, when I first 
published an account of Buxton and its waters, and even 
with Buxton as it was only three years ago. To supply 
and chronicle the materials for such a comparison, has been 
a grateful motive for collecting the above-cited contribu¬ 
tions towards a historical account of the * ton waters; 
and the history must be admitted to be one of progress, 
and the future to be full of promise^. Much as has been 
done from time to time, for the improvement of Buxton, 
and the advantage of its visitors,£the increasing reputation 
of the mineral waters, and the incieasing resort of the 
invalided, have always preceded and justified the extensions 
and improvements. It ^^.mdeniable, that the character 
and success of this important watering-place have been 
singularly independent of any circumstances but the mar¬ 
vellous efficacy of its healing waters. 


CHAPTEE II. 

—+— 

, PHYSICAL CHARACTER AND ITINERARY OE BUXTON AND 

THE PEAK OE DERBYSHIRE. 


The lowest part of tlie town of Buxton is at an elevation 
of one thousand feet above the level of the sea. It is, however, 
surrounded on all its sides by hills of greater elevation; 
and it occupies the north-eastern extremity of an oblong 
basin, the bottom of which is between two and three miles 
long, and about half a mile in breadth. The surrounding 
hills rise from the bottom of the valley by shelving 
sides, which gives to the upper margin of the basin a 
diameter ofL^Mfcn four to eki.it miles, in different direc¬ 
tions. The lulls which bound the valley of Buxton, 

r *- *’*V?*r degrees of abruptness. 
On the north and northwest, within little more than 
a mile from the tow^ to the right of the road to 
Manchester, Black fidge, t|ie highest part of Comb’s 
Moss, has an elevation of 1670 feet. On the west, 
at the distance of between t'H^and three miles, and to 
the right of the Leek road, and to the left of the roads 
which branch from this road to Congleton and Macclesfield, 
the highest part of the chain of hills has an elevation of 


o 




20 


VALLEY OF BUXTON. 


nearly 2000 feet. This is a well known and commanding 
ridge, called Axe Edge. On the south, the highest part of a 
chain of hilly grounds has an elevation of 1435 feet. These are 
now covered with what are known as the Grin Plantations, 
and were formerly, and at their more distant extremity 
are still, the site of extensive lime-kilns. The nearest part 
of this range of high grounds is within less than a mile from 
the town. On the south-east, Chelmorton Low forms the 
highest part of the range of hills. This Low, probably one 
of the many stations for signal fires in ancient times in 
these upland districts, has an elevation of 1474 feet. 
Chelmorton Low is at a distance of five miles from the 
town, to the left of the road to Ashbourne, and to the right 
of the road to Bakewell. But between Chelmorton Low 

i 

and Buxton, there is a considerable elevation of high land, 
called Stadon. Almost due east from Buxton, at the 
distance of six miles, is the village of Taddington, with an 
elevation of 1122 feet. The almost contiguous high grounds 
of the village of Eairfield, flank and rise above the town of 
Buxton on the north-east; beyond which, at greater and 
greater distances, rise the higher and higher grounds of Peak- 
Porest, Mam Tor, and Ivinderscout. These surrounding 

O 

ranges of more elevated ground, not only protect Buxton in a 
considerable degree from the more severe effects of prevalent 
winds, but the more or less steep ascents and declivities of 
the sides of the oblong basin represented by the valley of 
Buxton, offer a great variety of scenic beauties. Several 
hundreds of acres of the valley, to the west and south-west 






MOUNTAIN-LIMESTONE FORMATION. 


27 


of the town, present swells and undulations of great natural 
capability, much of the land sloping gently towards the 
south. These grounds have been partially turned to much 
account, more particularly within the last three years. The 
Buxton park occupies 120 acres of this part of the valley ; 
and contiguous to the park, the principal public pleasure 
grounds, gardens, and plantation walks have been made. 
The higher grounds, which surround the valley on all its 
sides, are for the most part crowned with plantations, which 
not only serve to enrich the landscape, but must assist 
greatly in tempering the severity of the mountain winds. 

For a full comprehension of the Buxton district, with its 
roads, and hills, and valleys, and objects of interest, reference 
is made to the excellent accompanying map; and likewise 
to an equally sufficient plan of the Buxton park, walks, 
and pleasure grounds, which has been prepared in illustra¬ 
tion of this work. As both the map and the plan have been 
necessarily drawn to a scale, the distances between the 
different places, and the extent of the different walks, may 
be readily estimated. 

Buxton is situated on the south-western edge of an 
extensive formation of mountain-limestone. The formation 
presents the usual characteristics of the secondary lime¬ 
stone. The surface of the country is remarkably undu¬ 
lating ; broken in the course of the streams into bold 
ravines, which are bounded by lofty and precipitous crags, 
having deep, time-worn, perpendicular fissures, with 
frequent horizontal cracks, often of great length, and as 




28 


MOUNTAIN-LIMESTONE FORMATION. 


straight as if formed by art. These cracks often extend 
deeply beyond the mere surface of the rocks ; and in many 
places, time or art has removed in part the upper layer or 
layers, and left broad shelvings of rock, which illustrate 
very well this character of the formation. In the instance 
of a well known rock in this formation, Chee Tor, the 
appearance is as if the upper part of the vast mass had been 
carefully cut off the subjacent layers, and accurately re¬ 
placed in the same position. The long and winding valleys 
of this formation, with bright trout-streams rippling and 
tumbliug over their rocky bottoms,—with beetling, precipi¬ 
tous, clefted, and time-worn crags, of pale-grey colour, 
bounding their sides,—and mountain-ashes, yews, pines, 
hazels, and thorns, partially clothing, without concealing, 
their romantic and various ruggedness,— while the ane¬ 
mone, orchis, saxifrage, forget-me-not, &c., embellish them 
with minuter features of beauty,—contrasting, as these 
valleys do so very remarkably, with the large-featured 
upland scenery of this district, on which the eye wanders 
for miles, until in one or two instances it almost distrusts 
the evidence of its impressions, and on which the lights 
and shadows of the clouds are often mapped with a 
curious and exquisite distinctness, and where the distant 
storm or distant sunshine may be traced at different points 
in a single view,—cannot but be admitted to give a variety, 
and character, and degree of scenic beauty and effect to 
this locality, which can be met with in few places in this 
country. 


MOUNTAIN-LIMESTONE FORMATION. 


29 


One remarkable characteristic of the mountain lime¬ 
stone formation, is well exemplified in that of the Peak of 
Derbyshire. It contains many large natural caverns. These 
caverns, the more important of which are at Castleton, 
Matlock, and Buxton, are entered by natural arches or 
fissures, at different elevations of the sides of the hills in 
which they are situated, and lead to alternate passages and 
chambers, which differ much as to height, windings, and 
length; the chambers being in one or two instances of 
palatial size, and of noble height and proportions; 
in some cases roofed with a flat surface of rock, in 
others with arches of different forms and sizes. In the 
great Peak cavern, at Castleton, these arches, from their 
height, span, proportions, and harmony as to character 
and extent with the chambers which they canopy, 
fill the mind with a sense of grandeur and beauty, 
scarcely inferior to that produced by the interiors of the 
larger cathedrals. In some instances, the constant dripping 
of water from the roofs of these caverns, charged with 
calcareous matter,—in others, the constant oozing and 
welling of such water over large faces of the rocky sides of 
the caverns, have, in process of time, formed stalactites of 
great size and curious variety, or produced surfaces of 
crystalline character. In the Blue-John cavern, at Castleton, 
the crystalline surface resembles a great cascade, and presents, 
when well lighted up, a remarkably intricate and beautiful 
variety of surfaces and reflections. It is remarkable, and 
adds much to the effect of these caverns, that a stream of 











30 


IGNEOUS KOCKS. 


water passes through the larger number of them. Some 
geologists have expressed an opinion, that such streams may, 
during the lapse of ages, have produced these great excava¬ 
tions : but this is not possible. It would be difficult to 
infer such an amount of effect from a flow of water, that is 
in general small and unimportant; although the influence of 
such an addition, with its darkness and its murmurings, on 
the character and impression of the caverns upon those who 
explore them, can scarcely be over estimated. And, more¬ 
over, there are chasms, and arches, and caverns, in this 
formation, which show no evidence of having been water- 
channelled at any time; and, therefore, there can be no 
doubt, that the whole of these have been equally the effect 
of disruptions, probably the immediate consequences of 
volcanic action. 

That volcanic action has been in extensive operation in 
this district, at some remote period of time, is not only shown 
in this way; and not only, in having probably formed the 
fissures, through which the tepid mineral waters of the district 
find their way to the surface; and not only, in the displace¬ 
ments, and shatterings, and extensive disruptions of the 
limestone strata; but evidence is given, that molten rocks 
have, in some places, overflowed the ordinary strata,—thus 
covering, or underlying, or mixing with the limestone 
which had not been acted upon by fire. Sir Henry T. de 
la Beche, in his great work, “ The Geological Observer,” 
says—“ In Derbyshire the observer will again see igneous 
rocks associated with ordinary deposits; in this case with 


IGNEOUS HOCKS. 


31 


limestone, known as the carboniferous or mountain lime¬ 
stone, in such a manner that their relative geological 
antiquity can be ascertained. Careful investigation shows 
that in that area, at least, and probably much beyond it 
(beneath a covering of the sands, shales, and coals, known 
as the millstone grit and coal measures), and after a certain 
amount of these limestones had been accumulated, there had 
been an outburst and overflow of molten rock, irregularly 
covering over portions of them. And further, that after this 
partial overflow, the limestone deposit still proceeded; 
probably spreading from other localities, where the conditions 
for its accumulation had continued uninterruptedly. Occa¬ 
sionally water action upon the igneous products may be 
inferred prior to the deposit of the calcareous beds upon 
them, if not also a certain amount of decomposition of the 
former, the limestones immediately covering them containing 
fragments (some apparently water-worn), and a mingling of 
the subjacent rock, such as might be expected if calcareous 
matter had been thrown down upon the exposed and 
decomposed surfaces of the igneous rock. In some parts of 
the district another outflow of the same kind of igneous 
rock again took place, and was again covered by limestone 
beds, so that in such portions of the area, two irregularly 
disposed sheets of once molten rock are included among 
the mass of the limestone beds.” The same excellent 
authority adds, that, of these igneous rocks, locally known 
as loadstones, “ natural sections (many of which are 
excellent) and mining operations show that as regards 




IGNEOUS 110CKS. 


32 

thickness these overflows vary considerably, so much so as 
to aid the observer in forming some estimate of the localities 
whence the molten matter, when ejected, may have been 

distributed around.”.“ In the case of 

Derbyshire, though there may have been a removal of a 
portion of the igneous beds by the action of water upon 
their exposed surfaces (and an attentive examination of the 
upper overflow shows a quiet adjustment of the limestone 
beds formed upon it), no deposits resembling the ash and 
lapilli beds above-mentioned as found in Devon and Corn¬ 
wall, "Wales and Ireland, have yet been detected. There is 
no evidence showing an accumulation of ash and cinders in 
the manner of subaerial volcanoes. It may readily have 
happened, therefore, that the igneous matter was thrown out 
in a molten state, without any accompaniment of ash and 
cinders ; and this might have taken place as well beneath 
the level of the sea as above it.” These are some of the 
wonderful phenomena of primeval nature; and they furnish 
an interesting illustration of the simple way, in which they 
may often be studied and explained. They show the 
gradual and perhaps slow formation of the limestone rocks 
at the bottom of the sea, and the occasional disturbances 
produced by volcanic outbreaks, modified in their degree 
and effects by the superincumbent ocean, which would 
probably not only moderate the violence of such action, but 
circumscribe its effects ; the deposition and accumulation of 
the calcareous strata being only interrupted during the time 
that the volcanic outbreak might be going on, and possibly 

* 


i 








IGNEOUS ROCKS. 


O Q 

oo 

to no very great distance beyond tlie immediate locality of 
such outbreak. “ Upon examining the structure of the 
igneous rock, it is found to be partly solid, and confusedly 
well crystallised, a compound of felspar and hornblende, 
with, sometimes, sulpliuret of iron. It is partly vesicular, 
in some localities highly so ; the vesicles, as usual, fdled 
with mineral matter of various kinds (carbonate of lime, as 
might be expected, being very commonly present), where 
the rock has repnained unaffected by atmospheric influences, 
but exhibiting the original and vesicular state of the 
molten rock where these have removed the foreign substances 
in them. In some localities the scoriaceous character of 
the rock is as striking as amid many volcanic regions of 
the present day. Like more modern igneous products, 
also, it will often be found decomposed in a spheroidal form. 
There is an example of this decomposition at Diamond 
hill, on the south side of Millar’s dale, where the concre¬ 
tionary structure has been developed somewhat on the minor 
scale, and the size of the spheroidal bodies is about that of 
bomb-shells and’cannon-balls.” —Sir Henry T. de la Beclie. 

The outflow of these igneous products in the district 
more immediately around Buxton, may be compared to the 
tortuous meanderings of a mountain stream. These mean- 
derings of toadstone extend from Fairfield to the Mater- 
Swallows, where there is a much broader and more consider¬ 
able outflow; the narrower meanderings of the toadstone 
continuing thence to Peak-Forest, and thence to Tideswell, 

Worm hill, Millar’s dale, Litton, Ashford, Chelmorton, and 

c 3 






u 


LIMESTONE EOSSILS. 


Buxton. The toadstone varies much in its density and 
general physical character; hut it always presents the dis¬ 
tinctive difference from the limestone, which likewise varies 
much in its density, that the action of fire has deprived it 
more or less entirely of the stratified character of rocks 
formed by deposition. In different places and specimens, 
the toadstone shows varying evidence of igneous action, 
from a friable, light, and porous, lava-like tufa, to a dense, 
and much more fully vitrified, and compact rock. 

The mountain-limestone contains a great variety of fossil 
shells; and such maybe said to constitute a large proportion 
of the rock and marble of which it is composed. The 
common grey marble of this district, is evidently alto¬ 
gether composed of dense masses of shells; and a dark- 
coloured marble, known as the bird’s-eye marble, is in a 
great degree composed of shells. It needs no taste 
for geological pursuits, and but little acquaintance with 
the wonders, as to the formation and early history of our 
globe, which geology teaches, to make this a matter of 
curious interest to every one. The limestone rocks, in all 
directions in the neighbourhood, show, on their abrupt and 
craggy surfaces, dense masses of these primeval shells; 
indicating a time when this high range of country was 
submerged in ocean; and when, as it should seem, by the 
agency of myriads of these marine creatures, such masses of 
rock were altogether or in large degree produced. These 
fossil shells differ essentially from those of the existing 
species; and differ from one another as much in size and 




LIMESTONE FOSSILS. 


35 


form, as the marine shells of the existing species differ from 
one another. As to size, some of the fossil shells are several 
inches in diameter, and others are so small as to be 
altogether invisible to the naked eye. Lamarck well says 
“ in producing living bodies, what nature seems to lose in 
size she fully regains in the number of individuals, which she 
multiplies to infinity, and with a readiness almost miracu¬ 
lous. The bodies of these minute animals exert more 
influence on the condition of the masses composing the 
earth’s surface, than those of the largest animals, such as 
elephants, hippopotami, whales, &c., which, although consti¬ 
tuting much larger individual masses, are infinitely less 
multiplied in nature.” As the coral reef, rising in the 
midst of the ocean, in our times, comes at length to emerge 
above the level of the waters, and to form a new land, on 
which birds may alight, and alluvial soil be formed, and to 
which seeds may be wafted, and where vegetables may grow 
and flourish; and all this marvellous sequence, involving 
the formation and completion of a new and habitable country, 
be referable to the labours of myriads of coral insects; so, 
by means of myriads of marine creatures, requiring and 
producing these coverings of shells, was this formation of 
secondary limestone in great degree produced,—to be at 
length upheaved, probably by volcanic influence, from the 
bed of the ocean,—to be partially vitrified by the heat, its 
organic structure being so far destroyed, and a crystalline or 
an amorphous character substituted for it,—to become 
partially mixed with products of volcanic action,—in part to 






36 


MILLSTONE-GRIT FORMATION. 


form rugged and broken masses of precipitous rock, to be 
worn by the storms of ages,—in part to show marks of dis¬ 
rupted stratifications, the shakes and displacements, which 
tell even now, in the strongest language, of the convulsions 
by which such masses were uplieaved,—in part to become 
extensive surfaces of undulating country,—in part to form 
the rocky sides of valleys, between which the streams from the 
mountains may find their way to the sea. Such are the rocks, 
the uplands, and the valleys of the Derbyshire limestone. 

The sojourner who can gather such food for thought in 
his walks about the neighbourhood of Buxton, has before 
him in this locality abundant additional materials for his 
enquiries. Leaving the mountain-limestone formation, on 
the very edge of which he finds himself when he passes to 
the north and north-west of the town,—and crossing the 
narrow bed of shale, which he does on commencing the 
ascent of the Manchester road,—he immediately steps to 
the adjoining formation of millstone-grit, which tells of a 
less remote period in the world’s history. In a quarry of 
valuable stone for building purposes, about half a mile from 
the town, on the right hand side of the road, are occasionally 
found the fossil remains of fruits and monocotyledonous 
stems, which show that, at some remote period, the climate 
of these now colder regions of the world, must have been at 
least as warm as that of the intertropical countries of 
modern times. These fruits and stems show, that plants 
which only grow and flourish within the limits of the torrid 
zone, must at one time have attained a large size in this 




MILLSTONE-GRIT EORMATION. 37 

locality. How strange, and yet witli wliat a strong proba¬ 
bility of truth, to think that possibly this gritstone formation 
was, at some remote period, part of a land of much lower 
level than that which it now occupies, the temperature of 
which was that at which palms and the like can grow and 
flourish ; while the adjoining formation of secondary lime¬ 
stone was at the bottom of the sea, or perhaps in process of 
being formed by myriads of shell-fish ! 

The contiguity of the limestone and gritstone formations 
affords much matter of curious observation, as to the 
difference of vegetative power and character of these 
different soils. 

The moorland character of the uncultured higher grounds 
of the gritstone formation,—the peat soil,—the existence in 
many places of such considerable thicknesses of hog-earth 
overlaying the gritstone, as to have contained large trunks of 
trees completely buried and preserved, for periods probably 
beyond recorded time,—illustrate remarkably the very 
different early history of the limestone and gritstone forma¬ 
tion. At those remote periods, these parts of the gritstone 
formation must have been covered with a dense vegetation; 
layer upon layer of which, buried by new growths, to he in 
turn buried by successive growths, at length formed great 
depths of impervious bog-earth, which retain the rains in a 
chill and unproductive excess of moisture, and form a 
surface only capable of supporting heaths and kindred 
plants, until subjected to such dressing and drainage as alter 
its character and condition. At these remote periods of 







33 


YALE OF GOYT. 


time, tlie limestone may have been at the bottom of the sea, 
or in the last stages of its formation ; and at all events must 
have been so far differently circumstanced, that it had no 
vegetative growth of similar character to that of the 
gritstone formation. 

The vegetation of the pasture lands differs much on 
these formations; there are marked differences in the 
broader features of the landscape; and some trees, and 
plants, and wild flowers, which thrive on the one, do not 
thrive on the other. These differences in the characters 
and productions of the two formations, are especially remark¬ 
able in their respective valleys. There is a valley on the 
gritstone formation, which begins at a short distance from 
Axe Edge, and extends several miles. This valley, called 
the vale of Goyt, from the mountain stream—the Goyt— 
which runs through it, exhibits throughout its course a 
remarkable richness and variety in its vegetative growths. 
This is in part due to the gritstone detritus, which constitutes 
necessarily much of its soil, and in part to coverings, or 
admixtures, or detritus, of peat or bog-earth, of varying 
thickness and proportion. Trees grow with great rapidity 
on the sides of this valley. There is scarcely a wild fruit 
which grows in any part of these kingdoms, that is not to be 
found growing in this valley, or on the adjoining uplands and 
moors,—from the cloudberry, clusterberry, cranberry, and 
bilberry of the moorland, to the blackberry, strawberry, and 
raspberry, of the valley and its sides. Eut, to return: there 
is a great and readily observable difference in the character 


comb’s MOSS.-FAIRFIELD. 


39 


and general appearance and form of tlie surface, in the shape 
of the hills, in the appearance of their sides, curves, and 
eminences, and in the whole character of the vegetation of 
the gritstone and limestone formations. 

There is a magnificent and much broader valley, within 
the same distance from Buxton, on the north; being divided 
from the valley of Buxton by Comb’s Moss. The town of 
Chapel-en-le-Frith, which is six miles from Buxton, is 
situated in a part of this wide and undulating valley, or 
extensive basin, which consists almost entirely of the grit¬ 
stone formation. There are few finer scenes, than the view 
of this valley from the north-western edge of Comb’s Moss, 
at the distance of somewhat less than three miles from 
Buxton. The explorer may turn off the Manchester road to 
the right, at the first milestone from the town, follow the 
bridle-road for about half a mile, and then ascend the higher 
grounds on the right. To a stout pedestrian, however, the 
whole of this valley, as well as that of the Goyt, is well worthy 
of being explored. 

At a distance of about half a mile from Buxton, on the 
north-east, is the hamlet of Fairfield, with its fine command¬ 
ing upland position, its church, and its extensive common 
—the old Buxton racecourse. The road from Buxton to 
Fairfield is a steep ascent; presenting on the left, a very 
good view of the whole valley of Buxton, backed and begirt 
by Axe Edge, Grin Edge, and Comb’s Edge; with Lower 
Buxton, and its Crescent, and church, and the adjacent park, 
occupying the centre of the scene. The village of Fairfield 

















40 BAT1IAM GATE.—MARVEL-STONES.—EILDON-HOLE. 


is prettily situated on tliis upland ; and beyond it lies tlie 
common, which affords admirable ground for horse-exercise. 
The road which leads to Chapel-en-le-Erith, passes at right 
angles, almost immediately beyond the common, part of 
the old Roman road called Batliam gate. The undoubted 
antiquity of this road, together with the name it has iin- 
memorially borne, serve to support the ancient use and 
importance of the Buxton baths. 

If this old road, with its less evidently ancient continua¬ 
tions, be followed for about two miles, the so-called Marvel- 
stones will be seen on the right. This is a curious and 
somewhat extensive cropping out of limestone rocks, which 
are raised two or three feet from the surface. The less 
zealous explorer will however hardly think himself repaid 
by their appearance, for the trouble of his journey to the 
spot. 

Immediately beyond the Marvel-stones, lies the small 
mountain village of Peak-Eorest, with its chapel, which is 
said to have enjoyed, so recently as in the course of the last 
century, the celebrity and supposed privileges of an English 
Gretna-Green. Very near to Peak-Eorest village, there is 
an extraordinary natural opening or fissure in the limestone, 
called Eildon-Hole. The depth of this fissure, and its irregu¬ 
larity, must be great; inasmuch as, on throwing stones into 
it, they often fall and rebound from side to side, until the 
reverberation comes to be heard more and more faintly, the 
sound seeming to be at length lost in the greater and 
greater distance. There may be some degree of deception 











DOVE-HOLES.—THE PEAK. 


41 


in this matter, owing to the echoing effect of the reverbe¬ 
ration in the contracted and rocky channel; but it seems 
to be probable that the depth of the chasm is really very 
considerable. 

About a mile beyond the junction of Batliam Grate with 
the Chapel-en-le-Frith road, at Dove-Holes, is one of the 
remarkable water-swallows, of which several are met w r ith in 
this district. A larger or smaller stream of water descends 
by a fissure into an under-ground natural channel, and 
emerges from the surface at a greater or less distance,—in 
some cases said to amount to a mile, or even more. 

One mile beyond Dove-Holes, this road joins the main 
road, which leads from Chapel-en-le-Frith to Castleton. 
The main road descends rapidly towards Chapel-en-le-Frith, 
which is about a mile and a half from the junction of these 
roads. The small town of Chapel-en-le-Frith is prettily 
situated and sheltered. Immediately beyond the town, the 
valley in which it is situated opens out to a considerable 
width, presenting bold and fine elevations towards the north 
and south, and enclosing beautiful and productive lands on 
both sides of the road. This road joins the high road from 
Buxton to Manchester, about three miles from Chapel-en-le- 
Frith, and six miles from Buxton, at Horridge end, and close 
to the hamlet of Whaley. 

To the north of Chapel-en-le-Frith, are the districts and 
towns of Hayfield and Glossop; and to the east of Hayfield, 
is the great range of elevated country, which is dignified 
more especially by the name of the Peak ; having Kinder- 



42 


ED ALE. MAM TOE.—CASTLETON C A VEENS. 


scout on its western, and Ashop Moor and Edale on its 
eastern extremity,—tlie higher grounds having an elevation 
of nearly 2000 feet above the level of the sea. The 
beautiful valley of Edale, than which even this district has 
few finer scenes to offer, separates this extensive range of 
high lands from Mam Tor, which, although only 1709 feet 
above the sea-level, from overlooking Edale on the north, and 
the more extensive valley of Hope on the south-east, is often 
considered to be, as would be implied from its name, the 
greatest of these eminences. Immediately at the foot of 
Mam Tor, lies the old village of Castleton, crowned on its 
southern side by the smaller, but steep and commanding 
eminence, on which are the ruins of the castle of the lords 
of the Peak in the olden times. The view from these ruins 
is extensive, and very fine and varied ; and indeed the whole 
district supplies such a number and variety of scenes, that 
every half mile of a journey furnishes a new and extensive 
picture. 

Close to the village of Castleton,is the great Peak cavern,— 
the most remarkable of all the Derbyshire caverns,—which is 
entered by a natural arch, forty-two feet high, and one 
hundred and twenty feet wide; this imposing hall of entrance 
being three hundred feet in depth. Beyond this hall, a 
narrow low passage, almost separated from the further 
interior by water, which is either crossed by an artificial 
foot-path or by means of a boat, conducts the explorer into 
a spacious cavernous chamber, some parts of which are 
estimated to be two hundred and ten feet in width, and 



WINNETTS.-EBBING AND FLOWING WELL. 


43 


one hundred and twenty feet in height; the whole being 
enarched, with a magnificence of general effect, and a beauty 
and variety of detail, which baffie all description. 

A lead-mine, no longer worked, called the Speedwell 
mine, is another of the wonders usually explored by the 
visitor to Castleton. 

The Blue-John mine, whence the curiously beautiful spar 
called Blue-John is obtained, is well worthy of a visit. 
Vast spaces of the sides of this cavern are covered with 
sparry incrustations of great variety, reflecting most beauti¬ 
fully the lights of the candles and crimson and blue fires, by 
which the cavern is illuminated by the guides. 

The whole of the valley to Hope and Hathersage, 
and the great extent of hills and moorlands to the north, 
east, and south, are well worthy of being explored, and 
cannot fail to excite and elevate any and every mind, 
and fulfil abundantly any amount of expectation. 

The traveller, in going from Buxton to Castleton and 
back, will act wisely to go on the one occasion by the road 
which passes the foot of Mam Tor, and on the other to pass 
through the Winnetts or Wind-gates. The view through 
these great rocky portals presents a dioramic scene of 
magnificent extent and beauty. 

About five miles from Buxton, by the side of the road to 
Castleton, at the upper part of the valley of Bar-moor 
Clough, through which the road passes, is the most remark¬ 
able of the intermitting springs of this district. It is called 
the Ebbing and Blowing Well. The frequency with which 





44 


COURSE OF THE WYE. 


this intermittent flow occurs, depends upon the amount of 
rain which may have fallen recently. After much rain, the 
flow may he as frequent as every ten or fifteen minutes. 
The quantity of water poured out at a time must he con¬ 
siderable. The ebb and flow may be due to a curved conduit, 
through which the supply of water has to pass. One limb 
of such conduit might become gradually filled with water 
as it drains from the surface ; at the same time the 
water would rise to the same level in the other limb 
of this natural syphon ; and when the second limb had 
become filled to its further extremity, the flow would 
take place, and continue until both limbs of the conduit 
were emptied, when the flow would cease, and the curved 
conduit have to be again filled. * 

The whole course of the Derbyshire river 'Wye, from 
Buxton to its junction with the Derwent, at the village of 
Bowsley, beyond the town of Bakewell, presents a great 
variety of valley scenery of remarkable beauty. The road 
from Buxton to Bakewell passes through Ashwood dale,— 
the nearest of these valleys to Buxton. This valley is 
rather more than four miles in length ; and the road passes 
close to the right bank of the river about three-fourths of 
this distance. Near to Buxton, the valley is bounded by 
abrupt limestone rocks of considerable height, and much 
bold and rugged character. Several smaller valleys 
open from Ashwood dale; and one of these, from its 
remarkable and picturesque beauty, deserves to be particu¬ 
larly mentioned. This is Sherbrook dell, opposite to the 











CHEE TOE. 


45 


first milestone from Buxton. The sides of this dell are 
extremely abrupt and lofty rocks, which hem in the narrow 
gorge completely ; and as the ravine bends suddenly within 
a few yards from the road, the explorer finds himself 
at once surrounded by much untouched and majestic 
natural beauty : the rapid and bubbling streamlet, by which 
its bottom is channelled in the winter time, and after 
heavy rains,—the little cascade which tumbles into the dell 
at its upper end,—and the wild plants and shrubs by which 
every cranny and crevice are taken possession of,—all serve 
to embellish this little dell very much. 

The greater part of Ashwood dale is planted on both sides, 
almost to the summits of the rocks. Prom beyond Blackwell 
mill, four miles from Buxton, there is a short extent, with 
scenery of more open and wilder character, as far as to a 
sudden turn of the valley and the river, with steep and 
rocky buttresses, marking the entrance to Chee dale. The 
magnificent perpendicular mass of almost circular crag, 
called Chee Tor, is in Chee dale, on the right bank of the 
river. This vast mass of rock is of considerable height, but 
necessarily seems to be of greater height than it is, from its 
perpendicular sides, which are as straight as if cleft with 
care by the hand of man. The curious horizontal fissure near 
the summit of this rock has been already noticed. The 
perpendicular cliff towers above the dale on one side; the 
bright stream occupies the bottom of the valley; on the left, the 
hill side is embellished with scattered and overhanging trees 
and bushes; and an appearance of isolation is given to the 










46 


VALLEYS OF THE WYE. 


scene, by a bending of tbe valley to tbe left and then to the 
right, in order to skirt the rounded projection of the Tor,— 
the valley being thus shut in on all its sides. 

Passing from Chee dale and its great tor, there is a steep 
but practicable foot-path up to the village of Wormhill; and 
from the upper part of this path, a fine view across the 
valley is obtained. The river now passes below Priest-cliff, 
a gently sloping and rounded hill, which is for the most part 
planted, as are the sides of the further valley, which here takes 
the name of Miln-house or Millar’s dale. This is a much 
more open valley, with sloping sides ; patches of plantation 
and juttings of limestone rock varying the surface. The 
river is here of a considerably wider and more imposing 
character; and the scenery is less like that which commonly 
characterises the limestone valleys, and is more like the 
valley scenery of other parts of England. At the end of 
about two miles,however, the valley again contracts; the river 
becomes again confined within narrower bounds; the sides of 
the valley, although clothed with trees, are again more pre¬ 
cipitous, and the characteristics of the limestone formation 
are again strongly exemplified. The course of the river is 
here unusually tortuous ; and, emerging from this narrowed 
valley, it enters the broader and more slopingly-sided valley 
of Monsal-dale, with natural plantings of hazel, &c., and a 
great degree of richness and beauty. After a course 
through this valley of two or three miles, the river again 
meets the high road opposite to the eighth milestone from 
Buxton to Bakewell. 


ITADDON HALL. 


47 


At the third milestone from Buxton, the road to 
Bakewell, unfortunately made to quit the level of the river 
Wye, ascends rapidly to the high grounds of these elevated 
lines of country. Some little compensation, however, is 
given for the scenery left behind, and for all that which 
is commonly thus left unseen, by a wide and varied range of 
scenery on the left; the districts of Blackwell, Wormhill, 
and Tideswell, being overlooked from the road; and, on 
nearing Taddington, which is six miles from Buxton, the 
higher grounds of Chelmorton Low are on the immediate 
right; and the road is so much higher than the village of 
Taddington, that a view is commanded of the high grounds 
of East Moor, at a distance of ten or twelve miles. Erom 
the village, the road rapidly descends, and enters the valley 
of Taddington, which is bounded on both sides by lofty 
elevations of much beauty, and some occasional grandeur. 
The sides of the dale are clothed by natural plantations of 
hazel, hawthorn, &c. After a descent of two miles, the road 
again joins the course of the river; and passing the end of 
Monsal dale, and crossing and re-crossing the stream, it 
leads, through the pretty village of Ashford, to the neat and 
clean and pleasant town of Bakewell. 

Beyond Bakewell, the road still maintains its position by 
the banks of the Wye, through the vale of ITaddon; passing 
the fine old mansion, ITaddon Hall, on the left, about two 
miles from Bakewell. Haddon Hall deserves a volume of 
description; it is almost unique, as an untouched specimen 
of the homes of England’s aristocracy, in the olden times. 


















48 


CHATSWORTH. 





Situated on a fine terrace, on the side of the broad valley— 
with its bridge, and old gateway, and court-yard, and many 
windows, and irregular walls, and numberless rooms (for the 
most part small and very irregular), and old chapel, and 
buttery, and kitchens, and hall, and long gallery, and magni¬ 
ficent views from narrow windows, and lofty parapets, and 
garden terraces,—Haddon Hall deserves all the attention 
which it receives from painters and tourists. 

Beyond Haddon, the road soon leads to the cheerful 
village of Eowsley ; and the Wye at this point loses its 
identity, and becomes involved in the larger stream of the 
Derwent. 

Crossing the river, and proceeding northward, towards 
the village of Edensor, Chatsworth park is soon reached 
—the princely domain of the Duke of Devonshire. Chats¬ 
worth House is remarkable for its size,—its adaptation 
to the scenery which surrounds it, — its back-ground 
of dark woods, which shelter an arboretum of botanical 
and numerical value and importance,—its gigantic and 
costly fountains and water-works, — its great art-created 
rock-w r orks, — its large conservatories and orchid-houses, 
—its extensive, and varied, and art and taste and science¬ 
serving gardens and pleasure-grounds,—its imposing Italian 
elevations,—its princely suites of rooms,—its most choicely- 
filled sculpture gallery, — its paintings and drawings by 
great masters, ancient and modern,— its august library, 
collected by successive generations of noble lovers and 
patrons of letters, and in part by the great philosopher, 




DARLEY DALE.—MATLOCK. 


49 


who gave additional distinction, even to the name of 
Cavendish; these great treasures, and this great treasure- 
house, and its belongings, being most kindly permitted to 
be seen by the public at large. 

From Rowsley to Matlock, the road follows the further 
course of the river Derwent, through the beautiful gritstone 
valley of Darley dale, in which breadth, and richness, and 
variety, fill and satisfy the eye and the mind. About mid¬ 
way between Rowsley and Matlock, on the right of the 
road, is Darley dale church, by the side of which stands 
one of the oldest yew trees in England, said to be the 
growth of many centuries. 

Matlock village is eight miles from Bakewell; and 
between the village and Matlock bath, wdiich has come to 
usurp the name of Matlock, there is a distance of about two 
miles. The road passes near to the river, with its now broader 
and deeper stream ; and the valley rapidly becomes walled in 
by loftier and more precipitous rocks, until Matlock bath,— 
with its accumulated picturesqueness of outline and detail,— 
its massive rocks,—its romantically placed houses, built at 
all elevations, and in positions which seem to be inaccessible 
when they are first seen; with its walks, and steep ascents, 
and caverns; with its well appointed hotels and lodging- 
houses ; wfitli its tepid natural water and baths, of 68 
degrees,—form a watering-place of much attraction. 

Having passed Matlock bath, the road emerges from this 
extraordinary portion of its course, through two great rocky 
portals, to the almost contiguous village of Cromford; and 

D 







50 


CHELMORTON LOW. 


thence, still occupying one or other bank of the river, passes 
to the town of Belper, an important seat of the cotton 
manufacture ; goes through the pleasant village of Duffield, 
and reaches Derby, with its fertile surroundings, at the 
distance of 38 miles from Buxton. 

Beyond upper Buxton, on the south side of the town, is 
the old road to London, via Ashbourne and Derby. This is 
the most exposed and least interesting of the roads near 
Buxton. Passing the beautiful rising grounds of Stadon, 
near to the town, and leaving the village of Chelmorton on 
the left, about four miles from Buxton—Chelmorton being 
situated at the foot of Chelmorton Low, in an open valley— 
the scenery of the adjoining county of Stafford being shut 
out by the rising grounds on the right—the road passes 
over uplands, of bare and tame character, to Newhaven; and 
thence, with little improvement in the scenery, until some 
fourteen miles from Buxton, when the village of Tissington 
on the left, with its old trees, and enriched Old-Englisk 
character of scenery, and the road to Dove dale on the right, 
would atone for a much less inviting intervening tract of 
country. 

If, instead of following the high road just noticed,—the 
merits of which, for excellence of condition, deserve a passing 
word of praise, even in a district where all the principal 
roads are maintained in the best possible state,—the traveller 
diverges from it to the right, when between two or three 
miles from Buxton, he ascends at once the invidious range 
of higher ground, which separates him from the scenery of 


HIGH-WHEELDON.-BERESEORD DALE. 


51 


Staffordshire. He passes, on his right and left, many oddly 
shaped, and bold, and picturesque hills. He may go through 
the village of Earl Sterndale, ascend the conical hill called 
High-Wheeldon, and see all these hills before and below him, 
and an extensive and picturesque reach of the county of 
Stafford, lying on the other side of the river Hove, which 
divides Derbyshire from Staffordshire. The more distant of 
the Staffordshire scenery is divided from that which is nearer, 
by successive ridges of hills, over which the eye travels, and 
upon which the lights and shades of the clouds produce the 
most picturesque and rapid changes. A descent and ascent, 
through interesting and ever varying valley scenery, with a 
crossing and re-crossing of the river Dove, here a stream of 
no pretension, leads to the little market town of Longnor, 
at a distance of six miles from Buxton. Passing thence to 
the left, through a picturesque valley, which winds around 
the base of High Wheeldon, the traveller regains a road which 
leads to the village of Hartington. Hartington, by the more 
direct road, is about nine miles from Buxton. There is little 
scenery worthy of remark on the road from Earl Sterndale 
to Hartington, until within half a mile from Hartington, 
whence a higher level of road commands a view of the river 
Dove, with a much improved description of scenery 
bordering its course. Hartington is an unpretending and 
quiet village; and, within about half a mile, the river Dove 
passes through the first part of the remarkable scenery 
which has rendered it so famous. Beresford dale is a little 

gem of beautiful scenery. The more matured beauties of 

d 2 







52 


DOVE DALE. 


that part of the river’s course which is more strictly called 
Dove dale, if here somewhat less bold in character, are 
crowded together into a small space, giving the sense of 
finished beauty wdiich an exquisite miniature conveys, and 
which may compensate in some degree for any deficiency 
in the boldness and character, which might distinguish a 
painting of more pretension, and on a larger scale. Here, 
too, is the fishing-lodge, which was erected for the accom¬ 
modation of the venerable Izaak Walton; here is the 
domain that belonged to his disciple, and friend, and 
expounder, Charles Cotton; here is the stream, from which 
those lessons in angling were obtained, and by the banks 
of which those thoughts and maxims and gossip were 
formed, and embodied in simple and quaint phrase, which 
still serve to edify and please all the lovers of nature, as well 
as those who practise the “gentle art” ; and every one may 
well feel that this is indeed a fitting theatre for such 
thoughts and musings. 

o o 

Some few miles of bare scenery border the course of the 
Dove from thence to Dove dale. Dove dale is separated 
into several almost distinct portions, every one of which is 
distinguished by its own peculiar and characteristic beauties. 
The first of these is a somewhat open valley, with a rippling 
and shallow stream, and grassy banks and bottom, and 
shelving and less bold sides,—with but little of rocky and 
limestone character, until the eye reaches to the higher 
portions of the mountain walls. This is the less adorned 
hall to the more enriched scenes beyond. Passing over 


DOVE DALE. 


53 


some higher ground, which serves to shut out this first 
compartment from that immediately beyond, the eye is 
arrested by a mass of rock, which rises abruptly, standing in 
relief, and with much grandeur, on the right side of the 
valley. On the left, a little beyond this grand mass of 
limestone rock, is an expanded arch, of fine form and 
proportion, leading to a shallow cavern. Beyond this, on 
the left side of the valley, is a mighty and marvellous specimen 
of the peculiarities and capabilities of the mountain lime¬ 
stone. A mass of rock, standing out boldly from the 
mountain side, at an estimated elevation of between two 
and three hundred feet from the bottom of the valley, is 
completely perforated by an arch of some yards in depth, 
and said to be about forty feet in height, and eighteen 
feet wide. Through this archway is a space, open to the 
sky, which might be likened to the small court-yard of a 
mountain stronghold; and which leads to a narrow cavern 
in the higher hill-side. This curious archway, which has 
become detached from the further cavern, situated as it is 
at so considerable a height, admitting the light of day freely 
through it, and presenting the view of the space and cavern 
beyond it, is one of the most picturesque of the rocky 
wonders of the limestone formation. The view of the valley 
from above, looking through the archway from the upper 
cavern, is sufficiently beautiful to repay fully the toilsome 
ascent by which it has to be attained. 

The dale immediately beyond becomes much narrower; 
the sides become precipitous and rocky; the river becomes 


54 


AXE EDGE. 


narrowed, and less quiet in its character, and enters a 
narrower and darker gorge between two great rocky 
portals. On one side is a column of insulated rock, which 
rises abruptly, and in massive grandeur; on the other side 
is a bold mass, projecting from the side of the valley. 
What a scene of “hurly-burly,” and what gigantic action, 
must have produced and attended the dislocation and 
upheaving of these mighty masses; and what a tale this 
scene tells, in the midst of the beauty which is now so 
solemn and so still, of the agency by which the earth’s 
strata were made to produce the diversified surfaces, so 
needful for the wants, and conducive to the uses, the health, 
and the happiness of the human race! 

The valley below has again a more open and more 
enriched character; with a more quiet and broader stream, 
bounded by more sloping hill-sides; broken at intervals by 
masses of rock, scattered in vast fragments, or projecting, as 
though they had only just escaped from being hurled into 
the valley which they overhang. 

The town of Leek, a principal seat of the silk-manufac¬ 
ture, is at the distance of twelve miles from Buxton, on the 
south-west. The road rises rapidly from the valley of 
Buxton, passing over the ridge of elevated ground, of 
which Axe Edge is the highest point. The first part of the 
road is wild and bold in its scenery; the pointed and oddly- 
shaped hills, near Longnor, lying at some distance from the 
road, on the left; the right being bounded by the higher 
ground of the ridge of Axe Edge. When the summit of 


“ CAT AND FIDDLE/*-LONG HILL. 55 

the high ground is at length attained, an extensive view is 
presented; and from thence to the town of Leek, the 
scenery is of commanding and varied character. 

Branching from the Leek road, on the right, rather less 
than two miles from Buxton, is the road to Congleton, a 
small town, at the distance of fifteen miles. The road is 
wild, and less interesting than the road to Leek, or than 
that to Macclesfield. 

Macclesfield is at the distance of twelve miles from 
Buxton, on the west. The highest part of the road, close 
to a small road-side inn (the “ Cat and Biddle”), offers a 
view which is circumscribed in breadth, but which extends 
in length to a distance of forty or fifty miles. The river 
Mersey, near Liverpool, may be seen from this point, when 
the air is free from haziness, a3 after rain; the looking at 
objects so distant being even painfully fatiguing to the 
eye. From this point to Macclesfield, the road descends; 
offering an extensive view over this part of Cheshire, and 
leading to an idea of the town of Macclesfield which must 
be admitted to be beyond its deservings. Macclesfield is a 
well-known and very important seat of the silk-manufactiire. 

On the north-west of Buxton is the city of Manchester, 
at the distance of twenty-four miles. The road from 
Buxton ascends for a distance of two miles, having the 
valley of Chapel-en-le-Frith on the right hand, and that of 
the river Groyt on the left; no part of the one, however, 
and but little of the other, being visible from the road. 
The village of Taxal, and, almost contiguous to it, that of 


56 


LYME HALL.—CRESCENT WALKS. 


"Whaley, are six miles, and that of Disley is eleven miles 
from Buxton. Close to the left of the village of Disley is 
the extensive park of the Lyme Hall estate, the property of 
Mr. Legh’s family during several centuries. The Hall, to 
which the public are kindly permitted to have access, forms 
one of the great attractions of the district. The house is 
interesting from its associations, and contains much that is 
of historical, and much that is of intrinsic interest. 

Six miles beyond Disley, or seventeen miles from Buxton, 
is the town of Stockport,—which, only seven miles from 
Manchester strictly so called, is becoming little else than 
an extension of that great metropolis of the manufacturing 
districts of Lancashire and Cheshire. 

As will have been inferred from the account which has 
been given of the Buxton district, the walks and drives 
in the more immediate neighbourhood of the town are 
interesting. 

The walks opposite the Crescent, already mentioned as 
having been formed on the side of an originally unsightly 
cliff by Sir Jeffery Wyatville, offer a valuable resource 
to those who are more especially invalided, from their 
proximity to the principal hotels and lodging-houses. 
These walks are cut out of the limestone rock, and are 
accordingly remarkably dry. Arranged in a succession of 
terraces, a series of level walks is obtained, with the advan¬ 
tage of giving occasion for climbing at pleasure, or as lame¬ 
ness may diminish, or strength increase, to a higher and 
higher terrace walk; and thus these successive terraces have 


SERPENTINE WALKS.-THE PARK. 


57 


long been popularly recognised, as supplying indications of 
restored power and capability, in regard to tbe crippled 
limbs and enfeebled state of those resorting to Buxton for 
tbe use of its waters (see tbe plan of tbe walks, park, &c.). 

Almost contiguous to these walks, at tbe west end of tbe 
Crescent, opposite to tbe Hall and tbe Square, are still 
more extensive walks and pleasure grounds, maintained and 
kept in order for tbe free use of tbe public. These walks, 
which have been much extended and improved of late, are 
carried through a long belt of plantation, on both sides of 
tbe river Wye; tbe stream being crossed and recrossed by 
rustic bridges, diversified by water-falls, and in other ways 
subjected to tbe requirements of ornamental grounds. 
Thoroughly drained throughout tbe whole extent of these 
plantations, the walks having been rendered remarkably dry 
by this means, and by having been carefully made; and 
the most having been made of an originally great capability; 
these walks are sheltered and pleasant, and are much resorted 
to. These plantation walks, which are sometimes called the 
Serpentine-walks, and sometimes the Winding-walks, furnish 
a circuit of dry, well-gravelled, and well-kept foot-paths, 
of considerably more than a mile in extent. 

Only separated from these walks by the high-road to 
Macclesfield, is the Park, which occupies more than a 
hundred and twenty acres of greensward, sloping towards 
the south, and with walks and drives carried through it for 
the use of the public. Close to the town, on a rising and 

well-drained upland, well exposed to sunshine and air, near 

d 3 




58 


CORBAR WOOD WALKS. 


the lower part of this broad valley, the wide and excellent 
road around the circle of twenty acres in the centre of the 
park, is a valuable addition to the resources of the place. 

A gain : only separated from the park by the high road to 
Manchester, there is a great extent of walks, of extreme 
beauty and variety, through a plantation which occupies 
the site of old gritstone quarries, and covers a great part 
of Corbar hill-side. Occupying the south side of a com¬ 
manding eminence, winding through plantations of adequate 
growth, and traversing the picturesque inequalities of the 
old quarries, all their rude handiwork covered over long ago 
with wood, and undergrowth, and ferns, and foxglove, and 
more recently with rhododendrons and the like, with vistas 
of Buxton and its valley, and surrounding hills, these walks 
are the most recent and most picturesque addition to the 
attractive features of the locality. The terrace-walks oppo¬ 
site the Crescent, the winding walks and pleasure grounds, 
the roads through the park, and these walks through the 
Corbar woods, may he moderately computed to supply an 
extent that must amount to several miles. The more 
energetic pedestrians should ascend beyond the highest 
limits of the Corbar wood walks, pass through an upper 
plantation, and reach the summit of the Corbar hill, which 
commands an extensive view of Buxton and Fairfield. 

The road to Bakewell, winding, as it does, through 
Ashwood dale, and near to the south side of the river Wye, 
and leading to much that is interesting, affords a very 
favourite walk. The road is continued near to the south 



WALKS NEAR BUXTON. 


59 


bank of the stream, for a distance of three miles; but 
beyond this, there is a practicable foot-path, or rather bridle- 
road, beyond Blackwell mill; and indeed to the point where 
the western extremity of Chee dale is shut in by rocks, which 
abut close upon the edge of the river. A wooden foot¬ 
bridge, and but little additional cost, would render the 
further and very beautiful course of the river accessible from 
this point, at a distance of only four miles from Buxton. 

On the south side of the commencement of the Bakewell 
road, close to the eastern extremity of Lower Buxton, a 
stile and foot-path lead through the plantation which covers 
the southern side of Ashwood dale at this point. The path 
is carried back again to the road, at the distance of some¬ 
what less than half a mile. The road may be left at this 
point by a narrow foot-path on the south ; and this leads, by 
a continued foot-path, through fields, to TJpper Buxton. If 
the Bakewell road is followed a few yards further than the 
foot-path now indicated, a road, that is somewhat narrower 
than the high road, leads to Upper Buxton by Sherbrook and 
Coteheath, and gives a circuit of rather more than two miles. 
This, which is commonly called the Duke’s drive, is found 
to be a favourite walk, and likewise a favorite short drive, 
in much request by those who make use of donkey-carriages 
and Bath-chairs. 

A little distance nearer to Buxton than the first milestone 
on the Bakewell road, a stile and footpath lead to a wooden 
bridge across the river, whence a pathway or sheep-track 
leads up the opposite side of the valley, by the northern end 






60 


WALKS NEAR BUXTON. 


of a plantation. On reaching the north-eastern corner of 
the belt of plantation, the sheep-track may be left, and the 
eastern edge of the plantation may be followed for about a 
quarter of a mile or less, when the top of the lofty and 
abrupt rocks which bound the northern side of Ashwood 
dale will be found to have been reached, and a bird’s eye 
view obtained of the road, and the river, and all their very 
picturesque and beautiful surroundings. If the sheep-track 
shall have been followed, or be now returned to, it will be 
found to lead to a green and broad way on the west, called 
Tongue-lane, which leads pleasantly over the uplands to 
Fairfield, whence Buxton may be returned to by the high 
road or otherwise. 

Sherbrook dell, or Lover’s leap, opposite the first mile¬ 
stone on the Bakewell road, has been already mentioned, 
and should of course be explored. 

By proceeding along the Bakewell road to the bridge 
beyond the road-side inn called the Devonshire Arms, 
crossing the bridge, and returning through Fairfield to 
Buxton by a valley to the left, called Cunning dale, a 
pleasant walk of about five miles circuit is obtained; or, 
having crossed the bridge referred to, a stout pedestrian 
may climb the upland road before him, called Ashe’s bank, 
cross a field at the top, and reach an old bridle-road, along 
which he may return through Fairfield to Buxton, over the 
high and open country called Bailey Flat. 

If the Bakewell road be followed through the first toll-bar, 
and the steeply-inclined valley immediately on the right be 


WALKS NEAK BUXTON. 


61 


followed along its bridle-road, a high range of country is 
reached by Rock Head, or Cowdale ; and a foot-path from 
thence across the fields will be readily found, leading over 
Stadon, and by Sherbrook and Coteheath, to Buxton, after a 
circuit of about five miles. 

If the Bakewell road be followed a few yards further, and 
the lodge-gate on the right be passed through, and the road 
followed to the opposite uplands, the old road to Kingstern- 
dale is soon reached, close to a small church which has been 
recently erected; and thence, by turning to the right, after 
a walk of about half a mile, where the road is crossed by 
the road from Cowdale to the Ashbourne high road, the 
return to Buxton may be by turning to the left and 
gaining the Ashbourne road, or to the right and regaining 
the Bakewell road, passing by Bock Head, or by walking 
across the fields over Stadon to Sherbrook. 

There; are an upper and lower road from Upper Buxton 
to the first mile on the road to Macclesfield, the one passing 
by Poole’s Hole and Burbage, the other by Wye Head; and 
returning thence to Lower Buxton by the Macclesfield road, 
gives a circuit of about two miles. This distance may be 
shortened by following a foot-path across the fields,—leading, 
in the instance of the upper road, from Poole’s Hole to the 
plantation walks opposite to the Square and the Hall,— 
and as to the lower road, from Wye Head to the same place. 

There is a pleasant ramble by the foot-path now referred to, 
from Lower Buxton to the Grin plantations above Poole’s 
Hole, and through these plantations by a cart-road, to the 


6‘2 


WALKS NEAR BUXTON. 


summit of Grin-Low, marked by a mass of loose stones put 
together to resemble at a distance some ancient ruin. There 
is a good view of the valley of Buxton from this point. 

The second milestone on the Leek road, immediately 
beyond the toll-bar, is close to the base of the somewhat 
steep eminence of high ground, called Axe-edge from its 
lofty and commanding position. From the summit of Axe- 
edge a good view is afforded of the Buxton valley and its 
surrounding elevations. 

The road to Fairfield, its upland position and extensive 
common, its fine and bracing air, and the view of Buxton 
and its valley obtained from it, make it one of the pleasant 
short rambles near to the town; and there is a foot-path 
across the fields on the left by which the return to 
Buxton may be diversified, as well as the routes on the right 
already spoken of, by which the Bakewell road may be 
reached opposite to the first or the second milestone, as a 
shorter or longer walk may be wished for. 

There is a long walk of about seven miles, w r hick offers a 
great variety and beauty of scenery,—from Goyt’s Clough, 
about two miles from Buxton, on the old Macclesfield road, 
by the banks of the river Goyt, along the moorland bridle- 
road, into the valley of the Goyt, and as far as Goyt’s bridge, 
—and thence across the bridge, and up the steep old road 
called Goyt’s lane, to the Manchester road, about two miles 
from Buxton. 

Another long walk of much interest, is obtained by leaving 
the Manchester road at the first milestone, traversing the 


poole’s hole.—drives near buxton. 


03 


neglected bridle-road as far as White Hall, descending 
thence by an old road to the bottom of the valley on the 
north; thence bearing to the right, and reaching Hove Holes, 
and thence Fairfield and Buxton, after a journey of about 
eight miles. 

Poole’s hole, within about a mile from the town, w r ell 
deserves a visit from those who are fond of exploring natural 
wonders. It is one of the more considerable of the caverns 
in the mountain-limestone formation. The entrance on the 
side of Grin-low, below the plantations, is extremely con¬ 
tracted ; but after a few yards, it becomes more lofty, and 
leads to extensive chambers, through the bottom of which a 
narrow streamlet channels its way, and over which are 
roofings and arches of imposing extent and character; 
stalactites hanging from the roof in some places, and large 
crystalline masses having accumulated on the flooring of the 
chambers in many places, from the dropping and welling of 
the water charged with calcareous matter. 

The drives in the neighbourhood of Buxton are likewise 
very interesting. 

There is a pleasant drive over Pairfield, and by Hove Holes 
and Barmoor Clough, to Chapel-en-le-Erith, and thence 
to Horridge End on the Manchester road, and thence to 
Buxton. This is a distance of about fourteen miles. 

The village of Wormhill is reached by a road across 
the Fairfield common, somewhat to the right of the road 
just mentioned. The carriage may be left on the road near 
to Wormhill Hall, while the great rock, Chee-Tor, and the 



64 


DRIVES NEAR BUXTON. 


valley which it abuts upon, are being explored. Returning 
to the carriage, the road may be followed thence to the end 
of Millar’s dale, opposite to PriestclifF, whence the return 
to Buxton may be by the road which joins the Bakewell 
road at the fifth milestone. This presents a very interesting 
circuit of about fourteen miles. 

An interesting long drive, about twenty-eight miles in 
circuit, full of variety as to the objects and scenery, is 
obtained by following the Ashbourne road from Buxton, 
until within a few yards from Brier Low toll-gate, between 
two and three miles from Buxton; following the road to the 
right, leading through Hind Low toll-gate, with the higher 
upland of Brier Low on the left, the elevation of which is 
1481 feet ; the road passing thence under an archway of 
the High Peak railway, and thence, at a higher point, pre¬ 
senting views, on the right hand, of the extraordinarily 
twisted-looking, pointed, jagged, and irregularly shaped 
hills, Tor Rock, Swallow Tor, and Chrome Hill; and, as the 
road descends rapidly to the hamlet of Glutton, leaving Earl 
Sterndale and High Wheeldon on the left. Near to Glut¬ 
ton, the road passes through a bold rocky gorge: and 
immediately beyond Glutton toll-gate, the river Hove, here 
a stream of inconsiderable size, is crossed by a bridge. The 
river, at this place, passes near to the edge of the gritstone 
formation, and separates Derbyshire from Staffordshire. The 
road continues on the gritstone to Longnor, and thence to 
"Warslow. The road ascends rapidly from Glutton to 
Longnor, and affords a fine view, on the left hand, of the 


DRIVES NEAR BUXTON. 


05 


valley of Aldery, Glutton, or Crowdecote, variously so called, 
with its gritstone bottoms, and its limestone hills on the 
north and east, and gritstone hills on the south and west. 
Near to Longnor, the valley of Hollins-Clough is seen 
from the road, backed by the swelling hill sides, and sharply 
defined hill-tops, of this part of Staffordshire. Having passed 
through Longnor, the road is continued, through interesting 
and various scenery, to Warslow, at which place the moun¬ 
tain limestone formation is again met with. Immediately 
beyond Warslow, is the Ecton mining district, of course on 
the limestone formation; the hill-sides showing indications 
of the extent and importance of the mining operations 
which were at one time carried on there. The Ecton mines 
yielded, about half a century ago, great quantities of copper; 
and they are still worked on a small scale. Good specimens 
of the ores of lead, copper, and zinc, are readily found. 
Immediately beyond Ecton, the river Manifold, an impor¬ 
tant tributary of the river Dove, which arises near to Long¬ 
nor, and falls into the Dove at Ilam, becomes a stream of 
some importance, and the course of the river becomes 
exceedingly beautiful. Erom Ecton to Wetton, a distance 
of about three miles, the road near to the river side, although 
occasionally somewhat rough, is to be followed; and the 
clear and bright stream, and the meadowed banks, and bold 
valley sides, offer, along the winding course of the river, some 
beautiful scenery. On the right, the entrance to a remark¬ 
able cavern, on the side of Wetton Low, is seen from some 
considerable distance. The effect of the entrance to this 




OG 


DRIVES NEAR BUXTON. 


cavern, as seen from the road, is marred by the regularity of 
its arch, which is often supposed to have been either formed 
or modified by art, and might be mistaken very readily for a 
much misplaced work of masonry. From the part of the 
road which is nearly opposite to it, the cavern is readily 
reached on foot. The arch of the entrance is forty feet in 
width, and it is probably about sixty feet in height. The 
entrance is brilliantly and effectively lighted to a considerable 
depth, owing to a second entrance on the right, almost as 
lofty as the principal entrance, but much narrower; and 
almost opposite to this, there is a column of bold massive¬ 
ness, supporting arches which extend further inward; and 
the effect of the light, and of the size and proportion of the 
arches, on returning to the entrance, is very beautiful. On 
leaving the cavern, the Low should be climbed for the sake 
of the completely panoramic view from the top, which can 
have few equals. The borders of Wales are believed to be 
visible on one side, the range of country between Ashbourne 
and Derby is seen on another side, and the hills near Long- 
nor on another, and the more immediate surroundings are 
various and beautiful. A walk of about a mile leads thence 
to the village of Wetton, where the carriage may be con¬ 
veniently rejoined; and a drive of about four miles, through 
interesting scenery, leads from "Wetton to Beresford and 
Hartington; and Beresford-dale should be seen, if time 
permit. The return to Buxton, notwithstanding somewhat 
rough roads, should be through Sheen to Longnor, over an 
upland road, whence there is an extensive view of the 



DRIVES NEAR BUXTON. 


67 


scenery that lias been passed through, and from which 
Longnor, and the whole of the valley of Crowdecote, with 
their mountainous surroundings, may be commandingly 
viewed. 

Another circuit, of about fourteen miles, is obtained by 
again following the Ashbourne road nearly as far as the first 
toll-bar, thence turning to the right, passing through Earl 
Sterndale, and over the road which skirts the eastern side of 
High-Wheeldon. The carriage should be left at this point, 
and High-Wheeldon climbed, for the sake of seeing the 
extensive view from the summit of its great and curious 
conical elevation; and then, having returned to the carriage, 
the journey is continued, by Crowdecote, to Longnor, 
returning to Buxton by Glutton-bridge, regaining the 
Ashbourne road at the same point at which it had been left. 

The first six miles of the road to Leek present a hilly 
road and wild scenery, but with extensive and various views 
of much boldness and interest. 

Six miles on the road to Macclesfield, near to the road 
side inn, the “ Cat and Eiddle,” is the very remarkable view 
already mentioned over Lancashire and Cheshire, which pro¬ 
bably extends over a distance of fifty miles. 

Avery beautiful long drive is obtained, by leaving the Bake- 
well road, near to the fifth milestone,—proceeding thence 
by the road to Miliar’s dale,—keeping on the lower road 
near to the river, as far as Litton mill,—passing thence over 
Cram-side to Cressbrook,— and thence into Monsal-dale ;— 
and, at the part where Monsal-dale bends suddenly to the 


68 BOUNDARIES OE THE LIMESTONE FORMATION. 

west, either remaining with the carriage and leaving the 
valley scenery, and proceeding in the carriage to Ashford, 
and thence to Buxton,—or leaving the carriage at the bend 
of the valley, and crossing the river, to ramble through the 
remainder of Monsal-dale, and regain the Bakewell road, and 
rejoin the carriage after it has made the circuit by Ashford, 
opposite to the eighth milestone from Buxton. 

Bakewell, Chats worth, Haddon-Hall, Matlock, Tideswell, 

% 

Middleton-dale, Castleton, Beresford-dale, and Dove-dale, 
form severally, as will have been already inferred, most 
interesting objects for excursions from Buxton; and the 
most distant of them can hardly be said to be beyond the 
reach of being seen w T ithin the limits of a summer’s day. 
There is a remarkably fine old church at Tideswell, which 
well deserves to be seen; and Middleton-dale, in the same 
direction, about twelve miles from Buxton, is a limestone 
valley of considerable beauty. 

Sheffield is twenty-six, Chesterfield twenty-three, Notting¬ 
ham thirty-five, and Ashbourne twenty miles from Buxton. 

The mountain-limestone formation, to which this district 
owes so much of its character, is of considerable extent. 
Its greatest length, from the Blue John mine, near 
Castleton, which is on its extreme margin on the north, to 
Sally Moor (near Wootton, about two miles to the north of 
Alton Towers), the extreme margin on the south, is nearly 
twenty-three miles. Its greatest width is from twelve to 
fourteen miles; the narrowest part, from Middleton-by- 
Youlgreave to Hartington, is five miles across. These 


BOUNDARIES OF THE LIMESTONE FORMATION. 


69 


measurements are given geographically, without reference 
to the windings of roads. The average addition of one-sixth, 
will give a sufficiently near approximation to the distances 
by the roads. 

Buxton is on the north-western margin of the limestone 
formation; and its boundaries may be readily traced from 
thence. Eairfield and its common are likewise on the 
margin of this formation; the higher grounds of Corbar and 
Black Edge being on the gritstone. The Water Swallows, 
at Dove Holes, are on the edge of the limestone. The 
road from thence to Castleton passes very near to the 
margin of this formation; the Blue John mine, to the right 
of the road, at the upper end of Hope dale, as has been 
said, being on the limestone formation; and Mam Tor, on 
the immediate left, and the whole of the districts of 
Chapel-en-le-Frith, Grlossop, Kinderscout, and Edale, being 
beyond this formation. The town of Castleton is beyond 
the edge of the limestone; and consequently, the great 
cavern of the Peak is on its very margin. Middleton dale 
is near to its margin; Eyam, Stony Middleton, Baslow, and 
Bubnell, are beyond its margin. Bakewell and Ashford are 
on the limestone, but close to its margin. The Yale of 
Haddon, Eowsley, Edensor, and Chatsworth, are beyond 
the limestone margin. Youlgreave and the adjacent hamlets 
of Middleton, Elton, and Winster, are on the margin of thp 
limestone. The village of Matlock, is on the adjoining 
formation; Matlock Bath and its valley are on the limestone 
formation, but close to its margin. The villages of 



70 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


Brassington and Tissington are on the edge of the lime¬ 
stone formation. The considerable hill, Thorpe Cloud, at 
the southern extremity of Dove dale, is on the edge of the 
limestone. Ham Hall is on the margin of this formation. 

The limestone formation is surrounded by the great 
formation of millstone grit, interrupted occasionally by 
limestone shale; and this formation surrounds-the lime¬ 
stone, in almost all directions, with ground of higher 
elevation than its own high level; the difference sometimes 
amounting to between eight and nine hundred feet. The 
gritstone formation is particularly extensive on the north 
and west sides, but gives a boundary to the limestone 
formation of several miles in breadth on the east. On the 
south, there is a very narrow and irregular edging of 
gritstone, which separates the limestone from the new red 
sandstone formation. 

The climate of Buxton is necessarily much affected by 
the physical conditions, which have now been shown to 
obtain throughout the extensive tract of elevated country 
on which it is situated; and which surrounds it to an 
average distance of from twelve to twenty miles, in all 
directions. 

The elevation of the lowest part of Buxton may be said 
to be 1,000 feet above the level of the sea, the level of the 
new church having been ascertained to be 1,029^ feet. 
The mean density of the air is by so much less than it is in 
most places. In the words of Mr. Whitehurst, “the 
column of quicksilver in the barometer-tube is always an 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


71 


inch lower at Buxton than at Derby, at the same time and 
under similar circumstances.” This difference in the degree 
of atmospheric pressure has much effect on the human 
system ; and renders the removal of invalids to this district 
from places that are situated at a lower level, either emi¬ 
nently advisable or otherwise, according to the nature or the 
stage of the ailment. The effect of a change to this 
mountain air, on comparatively healthy people, is exciting 
and invigorating,—promoting circulation, appetite, and 
digestion, and increasing the buoyancy of the feelings and 
the general energies of the system. In the instance of the 
invalided, the probability of such excitement, the degree of 
which may be increased by the mobility which so often 
attends severe or long-continued morbid action, may render 
inadvisable the removal to such an air as that of Buxton. 
This observation is more especially likely to be applicable to 
those, who are suffering from more acute morbid states ; and 
especially when attended by much mobility of circulation, 
and great susceptibility of tissue. On the other hand, the 
mere debility and relaxation, which are so often consequent 
upon the removal or mitigation of acute disorders ; and the 
mixture of debility and congestive torpidity, which so often 
accompanies protracted convalescence, and so often attends 
protracted indisposition of chronic character, are much 
relieved by removal to the thinner and less oppressive air of 
this elevated district. 

The physical character of this mountain country may 
help to explain the comparative immunity, which is enjoyed 



72 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


by its inhabitants, from epidemic and endemic diseases. 
The dry and absorbent soil, which distinguishes almost the 
whole of the limestone formation, and the greater part of the 
gritstone formation,—assisted, as this is, by their elevated 
position,—must conduce much to this result, by diminishing 
the amount of stagnant water, and other sources of miasma- 
tous impurity. Even the ordinary exanthematous epidemics 
(measles, scarlatina, and the like) are usually of singularly 
mild character in this district; and typhus, and even common 
continued fever, rarely occurs, unless when brought into the 
district by persons who have been sojourning in less favoured 
places ; and when thus met with, has very seldom been 
known to have been extended to a second case. It has to be 
said, moreover, that no case of epidemic cholera has occurred 
in Buxton during any of the visitations of this fearful 
disease. 

The bearing which the high elevation of Buxton above the 
level of the sea, appears to have upon the probability of its 
exemption from cholera, is very interesting and curious. It 
was announced by Mr. Earr, in the admirable report on 
cholera for 1849, and has been since confirmed by further 
statistical experience, that the mortality from this dreadful 
malady increases as the level of places in an affected district 
is lower ; and not only that localities of higher level have a 
less liability to the disease, but that the degree of immunity 
may be measured by the degree of the elevation. This law 
must be liable to contradiction or disturbance under very 
powerful local exciting and predisposing circumstances, and 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


73 


would not be held to justify in any case the neglect of the 
common principles and conditions of public hygiene ; 
but it is curious as a great truth, derived from ex¬ 
tensive statistical data, and interesting in regard to 
the climatorial and hygienic character of the Buxton 
district. And this may help to explain the observation, 
that influenza is believed to have been a much milder 
ailment in Buxton than in most other places, both as 
to its immediate severity, and its ulterior consequences. 
The importance of this could hardly be over-stated, when it 
is remembered how much more frequently the visitations of 
this great catarrhal epidemic have occurred of late years; and 
that they are believed, either directly or indirectly, to have 
resulted in a greater amount of fatality than any other 
epidemic disease. In forming an estimate of the degree of 
fatality which attends influenza, “ It is necessary,” as 
Dr. Theophilus Thompson well says, in the able volume 
compiled by him for the Sydenham Society, entitled 
“ Annals of Influenza,” “ to extend our consideration to the 
fact that during the prevalence of epidemic catarrhal fever, 
the mortality is usually increased, often to a very remarkable 
degree. The cause of influenza, independently of its agency 
in producing characteristic symptoms, appearing to exert a 
power to modify any pre-existing disease with which it may 
combine, to impair extensively the vital energy so as to 
increase in the population of an infected district, the 
liability to contract other diseases, and also to lessen the 
ability to resist any degree of fatal tendency which such 





74 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


concurrent diseases may possess.” Such is, beyond all 
question, the explanation of much of the indirect fatality, 
which is referable to all the more severe epidemic diseases. 
To form a true estimate of their effects, the mortality that 
can be directly estimated, must be considerably added 
to. And when it is considered that, according to the able 
and trustworthy reports of the Registrar- General, nearly 
one fifth of the total mortality of England is referred to 
“ epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases,” too much 
importance can hardly be attached to the physical and 
sanatory character of any locality, in which a considerable 
degree of exemption may be obtained from these fatally 
influential classes of disease. If the mortality from all such 
diseases may be estimated, with much probability, to be 
in the ratio of one in twenty of those who are attacked, 
the smaller amount of sickness, protracted indisposition, 
and resulting debility, which a large degree of exemption 
secures to the inhabitants of this district, in addition to the 
lower rate of the probable mortality, deserves to be promi¬ 
nently mentioned in this work. It cannot be disputed, that 
a remarkably high average of health is enjoyed by the 
inhabitants of this district; the generally healthy aspects of 
the children are the subject of frequent observation, and the 
large number of people who live to an advanced age has 
always been noticed. Such popular statistics, however, if 
unfounded on precise data, are not to be received with 
implicit trust; but that there is an important degree of 
exemption from endemic and epidemic diseases, that they 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON, 


75 


are generally of comparatively mild character when they do 
occur, and that all disease throughout the district is 
commonly of very mild and simple type, is the universal 
experience of the medical residents. 

The mountain position of Buxton and the surrounding 
districts, renders the whole locality colder than lower situa¬ 
tions in the same latitude. The inland position, moreover, 
renders the mean annual temperature less equable, than in 
places which are more within the influences of the oceanic 
temperature. There are two circumstances which deduct 
considerably from these disadvantages. The one of these is 
the degree of shelter from prevailing winds, which is afforded 
by surrounding grounds which have a still higher elevation. 
There is an appreciable difference of temperature between 
the upper and lower parts of Buxton in cold weather, and 
more especially if accompanied by high winds, blowing from 
the north or north-east; and there is a much greater differ¬ 
ence of temperature between Buxton and the surrounding 
villages, which are less sheltered. But wdthin these forty 
years, many hundreds of acres have been covered with plan¬ 
tations, now of an advanced and important growth; which 
serve, not only to clothe and embellish the scenery of 
this large-featured country, but to shelter it from the 
winds in an important degree. The second modifying 
circumstance referred to, is the relative dryness of the air of 
Buxton. The comparative essential dryness of the air of a 
place, greatly subtracts from the effects of an absolute 
lowness of temperature. Dr. Kilgour says that “ cold 

E 2 





76 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


moist air, compared with cold dry air, abstracts caloric from 
the body in tbe ratio of three hundred and thirty to eighty 
degrees,” or more than four times as rapidly. In other 
words, the chilling effect of cold moist air is four times 
greater than that of cold dry air; and therefore the absolute 
lowness of temperature at Buxton, compared with the tempe¬ 
rature of less elevated places, may be sometimes fully, if not 
more than compensated, by the dryness of its atmosphere. 
The dry air of the Buxton district is one of the most inter¬ 
esting of its characteristics: it is in general siugularly free 
from fogs and exhalations, and remarkably clear ; enabling 
the objects of distant scenery to be seen with most defined 
distinctness. This is partly due to the altitude of the place ; 
partly, to the attraction of the clouds and condensed vapours 
in the higher regions of the air, to the more elevated grounds 
in the neighbourhood; and partly, to the comparatively 
small amount of aqueous exhalation, charged with organic 
contamination, owing to the absorbent nature of the lime¬ 
stone and gritstone soils. It should likewise be said, that 
immediately after the heaviest rains, the grounds and walks 
and roads in the town and neighbourhood, are found to be dry 
to a degree which excites the surprise of all strangers. And, 
therefore, although, as in most mountain districts, more rain 
falls in the High Peak of Derbyshire than in most places of 
less elevation, the effect of the rain is less observable or 
inconvenient. But the Buxton district does not receive its 
due share of all the rain, which its mountains may be the 
means of collecting. It is often observable, that clouds 






CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


77 


which are collected around Axe Edge, are precipitated on 
the adjacent districts of Cheshire and Lancashire, when 
there is no rain near Buxton. The enclosure of thousands 
of acres, which were unenclosed and bare of pasture within 
the memory of the present generation, and the drainage of 
extensive districts for agricultural purposes, are pro¬ 
gressively influencing the climate and scenic character of 
these upland districts. It is almost difficult to imagine 
how recently a large proportion of the country around 
Buxton, and within many miles of it on all sides, was 
without an enclosure, and covered with heath, gorse, 
and rank vegetation, the trees having been as yet un¬ 
planted which now so much embellish the landscape in all 
directions. 

The beneficial effects of the air of Buxton upon some of 
the invalids who resort to it, cannot be wholly explained 
even on the ground of its mountain elevation, or on that of 
its dryness. It sometimes happens, that invalids from the 
neighbouring gritstone districts, of an elevation at least as 
considerable as that of Buxton, are more benefited, and 
more rapidly benefited, by removal to the limestone forma¬ 
tion, than the mere change of air, or any other concomitant 
circumstance, can serve to explain. There is indeed usually 
an amount of stimulating effect, produced by the limestone 
atmosphere upon those not accustomed to it, -which neither 
the elevation of the place, nor the dryness of the air, can be 
held to explain. It frequently happens, that invalids, who 
are strangers to the place and district, and who state that 






78 


CLIMATE OF BUXTON. 


the remark has not been derived from any second person’s 
suggestion, affirm explicitly that they can smell the air of 
the limestone. On enquiry, it has seemed, that tliey have 
experienced a tingling sensation in the nostrils from the 
air, rather than that the air has been really odorous to them. 
That there may be important atmospheric differences, which 
are not appreciable by chemical re-agents, is universally 
admitted ; and it is not too much to suppose, that the air 
may be influenced by passing over or resting upon extensive 
districts, either according to their vegetative surface, or 
their geological character. There is some such effect produced 
on the air of this district, by the great limestone formation; 
and the result of this is, more particularly, to add to its 
stimulating influence on the human system. 

The spring in Buxton is unusually late, and proportionably 
short; the summer is of the average duration; and the 
autumn is long. The spring can seldom be said to have crept 
from the arms of winter until the month of April; and, in 
general, April is near its close before the winter can be said 
to be fairly got rid of. From the middle of May to the end 
of October; and in some seasons until considerably later, and 
almost to the end of the year ; may be said to constitute the 
real spring, summer, and autumn, of Buxton. July and 
September are apt to be wet months throughout England. 
The latter end of May, the whole of June, of August, and of 
October, are usually the least changeable periods of the 
year. 

The Buxton waters, whether used as baths or internally, 



THE BUXTON SEASON. 


79 


are equally efficacious at all periods of tlie year ; # and those 
who are suffering severely from those ailments in the relief 
of which they act so powerfully, make use of them at any 
time throughout the year. But people who have a choice, 
generally prefer the summer and autumnal months for 
migrating to watering places ; for the obvious reasons, that 
the country always looks best when nature has donned her 
livery, when the sun is bright, and the weather warm; and 
that exercise, which is so valuable an auxiliary to all 
medicinal treatment in chronic cases, can then be taken 
most pleasantly, and perhaps with most advantage. It is 
difficult, however, to understand, why Buxton should not be 
as full of its invalided visitors in June and July, as it is in 
August and September. This may have arisen from fashion 
and secondary circumstances ; but time and common sense 
must one day show its absurdity. The comparatively cold 
evenings and mornings of autumn, and the greatly shortened 
days, render the exercise which can be taken at this time 
of the year, less continuous than that which may be taken 
in the later spring months and the summer months, and make 
the disposal of his time irksome to many an invalid, in whom 
indisposition may have spoiled the taste for reading, and 
for whom the excitement of much society may be necessarily 

* “The usual season for drinking the waters is from the beginning of 
May, to the latter end of October; but if the patient requires a longer 
perseverance, he may safely use them all the winter, as they are found, 
upon repeated trials, to be equally good in all seasons.”—Dr. Hunter’s 
“Buxton Manual, or Treatise, on the Nature and Virtues of the Waters of 
Buxton.” York, 1765. 





80 


THE BUXTON SEASON. 


disadvantageous. When invalids visit Buxton during the 
months of June or July, the days being then long, and dusk 
and bed-time but little divided from one another, the 
cheerfulness is more likely to he maintained, and the 
spirits and feelings made conducive to the effects of the 
mineral waters, rather than suffered to intefere with them ; 
for it need not be said, that the influence of the mind upon 
the body, at all times paramount, is more especially 
important for good or for evil when the latter is affected 
with disease. 

I have used the word “ continuous ” with reference to 
exercise; and it may be well to embrace this opportunity of 
expressing my opinion, that every one, and invalids especially, 
should take the quantum of exercise, not only regularly, 
but in divided doses, at different times of the day, rather 
than endeavour to do as much as can be done at one time, 
by which fatigue is induced, the blood is determined almost 
unduly to the surface of the body, the internal organs are 
disturbed, and the nervous energies are inconveniently, and 
it may be injuriously, expended. This deserves to be 
seriously considered in regard to invalids, who may be en¬ 
feebled by indisposition, and whose systems may be predis¬ 
posed to be acted upon by causes apparently the most 
unimportant. On such persons it cannot be too strongly 
urged, that they should not attempt to walk far at one time; 

but rather, that a number of short walks should be alter- 

/ 

nated by rests. This kind of exercise, which may be taken 
within an hour or two after breakfast, and continued for 



THE BUXTON SEASON. 


81 


longer or shorter times, with longer or shorter intervals 
almost until bed-time in the summer months, is that which 
will be found to be most useful to nearly all invalids, which 
will employ the mind most fully throughout the day, 
lessening the chance of the time seeming to be hanging 
heavily on their hands ; while a more constant exposure to 
the genial and tonic influence of the air will be promoted : 
a point which, in regard to the value of Buxton as a watering- 
place, deserves perhaps a higher degree of importance than 
has as yet been assigned to it. 

But there is even a stronger reason to be advanced, why 
invalids should resort to Buxton as soon as the return of 
warmer and more settled weather permits them to leave 
home with comfort. There is more general activity in the 
system, at this time of the year, than at any other season ; 
and a correspondingly greater natural effort made for the 
relief of the more chronic ailments, than at any other period. 
This will have been noticed by most persons, as well as by 
medical men. The return of spring, of warmer weather 
and brighter days, not only stimulates the dormant vege¬ 
tation, and arouses the life of plants into a renewal of 
activity ; but acts upon animal life likewise, and includes 
man in its effects ; notwithstanding the artificial condition, 
and the artificial wants, which civilization has given rise to. 
The effect of such stimulus on the human system is seen, in 
a very obvious and painful degree, in the instance of those 
who are suffering the extreme stages of disease. The 
warmer air is too stimulating for the irritated and wasted 







82 


THE BUXTON SEASON. 


tissues ; and it has to be predicated of many such cases, that 
the more early the return of the season which is more 
genial to the healthy, the sooner will the slender thread 
he divided by which such invalids cling to life. And it is 
no less observable in other cases, in which the effect of such 
stimulus is not to destroy life, but to aid in the restoration 
of strength, and the removal of disease. It has often been 
suggested, in the instance of sufferers from the most chronic 
and obstinate of the disordered conditions, in the relief of 
which the Buxton waters are found to be so generally 
useful, that, in order to obtain the greatest amount of effect 
from their use, the earlier periods of the year should be taken 
advantage of for their use, when the efforts of the system, 
thus stimulated by the season, will be most likely to aid and 
confirm their effects. This stimulating effect of spring upon 
the human system may be increased by the periodical type, 
which all the operations of nature are found to assume. 
There is a remarkable tendency to periodicity in all vital 
phenomena. It is not merely in regard to the seasons, the 
succession of day and night, and the alternation of repose and 
activity ; but this law extends to all natural phenomena. 
And this great law may be supposed to aid in producing the 
development of all the vital efforts, which is so observable 
in spring, and which is found to be of so much practical 
importance in regard to disease. The dryness of the air of 
Buxton is the probable cause of one singularly valuable 
peculiarity, which is observable in regard to the place. 
Invalids hardly ever take cold at Buxton. They may have 



CHANGE OP AIR. 


83 


only just quitted tlie bed-room to winch they had been 
confined by serious and protracted indisposition, have left 
the comparatively close and heated air of the house, have 
travelled to Buxton closely muffled and packed in wrappings 
and multifarious envelopments ; and, almost immediately on 
arrival, have ventured into the open air, have sat down 
on the benches with which the walks are abundantly 
supplied, and have spent hour after hour in this indulgence, 
which in most places would prove to be so dangerous ; but 
it is here hardly ever followed by any unpleasant con¬ 
sequences ; and on the contrary, contributes to restore 
health and vigour to the enfeebled system. "When it is 
considered, that this observation has reference to a place 
which is resorted to for the use of tepid and hot baths, from 
the effects of which the vessels of the surface would be 
rendered unusually susceptible, its importance in a medical 
account of Buxton will be admitted to be great. The 
statement, however, must not be made use of to justify 
rashness, and sudden and violent changes in regard to 
exposure and clothing on the part of invalids; but it shows 
that to be justifiable which would otherwise be unsafe ; and 
it illustrates strongly a valuable character of the air which 
superincumbs the mountain limestone. 

Change of air is well known to be capable of producing 
much effect on the health of man. The amount of such 
effect is usually in proportion to the degree of the change, 
provided that it is not too great for the powers and 
susceptibilities of the system to endure without injury, and 



84 


CHANGE OF AIR. 


that the change is from a less pure to a purer air, and from 
an air that is damp to one that is dry. There are important 
disordered conditions in which the removal to a damper air 
is indicated, and in which a low and well sheltered situation 
should he preferred. But these cases are the exception to 
what applies to the majority of disordered states. It cannot 
be wondered at, that the removal to such a locality as 
Buxton should be followed by beneficial results, in many of 
the diseases from which the inhabitants of low and damp 
localities suffer so severely. It must indeed be admitted, 
that change of air of any kind often does good. The 
secondary influence of mind and its associations, may often 
justifiably assign a preference to such a change of air, as 
might seem to be less suitable to the generality of cases. 
There is, for instance, a virtue in the air of the native place, 
which may be inexplicable, unless the indirect effect of 
memory and association be allowed for. It has been said, that 

‘ ‘ Custom moulds 

To every clime the soft Promethean clay : 

And he who first the fogs of Essex breath’d, 

(So kind is native air) may in the fens 
Of Essex from inveterate ills revive, 

At pure Montpelier or Bermuda caught.” 

Armstrong. 

If this were so, the said “ custom ” would probably have 
little to do with the result. The effect would have to be 
ascribed to the mental stimulus: to the influence of the 
scenes of the younger days on the mind, and through the 
mind on the body. 



CHANGE OE AIR. 


85 


But, waving a consideration of such influence of mind, 
and of such special or exceptional cases as have been referred 
to, and of the cases in which disease may have so nearly 
done its worst, that an exposure to the ordinary breath of 
heaven could hardly be undergone with impunity, and to 
which the mildest and blandest air may alone be suitable, it 
may he affirmed that • the locality, in which the air is the 
most dry and pure, and the inhabitants are most free from 
disease, will he the most useful to the generality of invalids, 
and that Buxton deserves to he ranked among the places 
which claim so high a character. 









CHAPTEE III. 


—i— 

ORIGIN AND CAUSE OE THE HEAT OE THE THERMAL 
SPRINGS OE BUXTON. 

The temperature of the Buxton tepid waters is the first 
of their characteristics to be noticed. It is one of the most 
important of their sensible properties ; for, although no one 
who had been witness to their medicinal effects could ascribe 
them to the temperature of the waters, yet this temperature 
must aid and increase such effects, and facilitate the admission 
of the saline and gaseous constituents into the systems of 
those who make use of them. 

There are few subjects which have given rise to more 
speculation and inquiry, than the cause of the elevated 
temperature of hot springs. Although there are only two 
districts in which such springs are found in England, they 
are by no means rare in most other countries. More than 
forty such springs are reported to exist in Portugal alone ; 
the temperature of which ranges from 68° to 150°. 
Between sixty and seventy of these springs are said to exist 
in Prance; the temperature ranging from 70° to 221°. 
Switzerland and Italy are likewise rich in this respect. 



ORIGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


87 


But the springs of Germany have far outstripped all the 
others in medical importance ; which may be ascribed, in 
some degree at least, to the personal efforts of the highly 
gifted people of that country. The baths of Aix-la-Chapelle, 
Wiesbaden, Ems, Baden, and several others, are as well 
known by reputation in this country, as to the Germans 
themselves. 

Before directing attention to the causes which may pro¬ 
duce the elevated temperature of hot springs, it may be 
endeavoured to be shown whence the water is derived with 
which these springs are supplied. 

The water of all springs is derived from the atmosphere, 
or from large subterranean reservoirs, or from the ocean. 

The water of most springs is derived from the atmosphere. 
The aerial vapours are condensed on the surface of the earth, 
in the form of rain, hail, or snow. The water percolates 
through the softer strata, finds its way through fissures 
or faults in the denser strata, until its progress is stopped 
by an impermeable bed of clay, &c. It is forced over the 
surface of such a stratum, by the pressure of the superin¬ 
cumbent water; until it is carried once again to the surface 
of the earth, through a breach in the stratification above it, 
and forms a spring. But miners say, that the lower they 
descend below the surface, the less water they meet with. 
Indeed, these waters can hardly be supposed, under ordinary 
circumstances, to penetrate very far, without being absorbed 
by the strata through which they pass, or arrested, and again 
brought to the surface, by meeting with an impermeable 






88 


OElGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


stratum. Whereas, boiling water is poured out by volcanic 
agency, at an elevation of many thousands of feet, on the 
confines of perpetual snow; and consequently, the depths at 
which large collections of water may be supposed to exist, 
may be inferred to be very considerable. 

There seem, then, to be reasons for believing, that there 
are reservoirs, or large collections of water, situated at very 
considerable depths in the bowels of the earth; while it 
must be added, that such collections of water can hardly be 
so considerable, as to be independent of supplies from other 
sources, and to be capable of pouring out the immense volumes 
of water, which are discharged from depths, to which the atmos¬ 
pheric waters cannot be supposed to penetrate, under ordinary 
circumstances; or such discharges of water, in quantities so 
considerable, would materially increase the quantity of water 
contained in the atmosphere and in the ocean. It has been 
inferred, that such subterranean reservoirs cannot be of such 
extent as to afford this large supply, from calculations by 
which a specific gravity is ' assigned to the globe of nearly 
five times that of water, and a third more than the mean 
density of its rocky crust. Such inferences, however, are 
without adequate foundation. The Andes, with their eleva¬ 
tion of 25,000 feet above the level of the sea, have been well 
said to bear no greater proportion to the size of the earth, 
than the roughness on the rind of an orange to the size of 
the fruit; and yet, compared with this, how little is the 
greatest depth to which miners have explored the crust of 
the globe. A mine in the Tyrol is stated to be 2764 feet 



ORIGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


89 


in depth ; and this is probably the greatest depth to which 
man has penetrated. We can be little justified with such 
facts before us, in forming conclusions as to the composition 
or character of the internal structure of the earth. 

But when we take into account the amount of volcanic 
agency, which is still going on in various parts of the earth’s 
surface ; when we consider that thermal waters spring, with 
few exceptions, in the neighbourhood of either recent or 
extinct volcanoes, or of such disrupted stratification as are 
the results of volcanic action ; when we couple with this, the 
amount of volcanic power which is manifested in the ocean, 
—the islands that have been upheaved from its depths, 
within the memory and authenticated traditions of men,— 
and the shocks that are often experienced far out at sea; 
when we connect these facts with another singular fact, that 
thermal springs, and indeed that volcanoes, are very rarely 
found at any great distance from the sea,—and, indeed, 
when so found, are believed to derive their waters from 
great inland lakes, or inland seas ; and when to these con¬ 
siderations it is added, that columns of watery vapour, and 
showers of boiling water, are among the principal phenomena 
of active volcanoes, it is surely not too much to connect 
intimately the waters of the ocean with thermal springs, 
and to conceive that the ocean is the probable source from 
which the waters of these springs may be derived. It does 
not appear to be too much to conceive, that, through 
disrupted strata, or faults , at the bottom of the ocean, 
through chasms created by volcanic outbreaks, water would 








90 


ORIGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


be forced by the enormous pressure of the mass of waters 
above ; or that this should, under such pressure, and with 
the facilities created by the strata having been disrupted by 
the volcanoes, penetrate much deeper than we can conceive 
the atmospheric waters to penetrate. It may be conceived 
that, in this way, water may arrive at a centre of volcanic 
agency; and that there, urged by the heat that exists in 
the depths of the earth, this water may be converted into 
steam; and that, when the steam thus formed can find no 
vent, it may at length accumulate such power as to upheave 
the masses of strata above it, and in its turn become the 
active element of a volcano; or that, when the steam can 
find a vent for itself, by passing through strata already 
disrupted, it may be gradually condensed and cooled, until 
it may emerge at length on the surface of the earth, in the 
condition of a hot or of a tepid spring, according to the 
length of the channel through which it has had to pass. 

This is perhaps little more than theory ; but it is theory 
founded on such an association of facts, as seems to justify 
a strong opinion of its probability. If it be denied, it is 
difficult to assign any satisfactory reason, why thermal 
springs are not found as commonly in the interior of vast 
continents, as in the neighbourhood of the ocean; why 
thermal waters are so constantly found to be connected 
with existing or extinct volcanoes; and why water, in the 
form of steam, or at a much elevated temperature, is so 
constantly associated with every volcanic outbreak. But 
this supplies an explanation of several circumstances, which 


ORIGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


91 


form singular and interesting matters in the history of 
thermal waters. It gives a key to the surprising fact, that 
thermal springs flow in unvarying quantity, and at an 
unvarying temperature, from age to age * and that, as far as 
can be ascertained, their constituents have been unmodified 
by time. If the waters with which these springs are sup¬ 
plied, were derived from the same source as that of the 
generality of springs, viz: the waters condensed on the 
surface of the earth from the atmosphere, they would 
necessarily be subjected to the same vicissitudes. In a 
particularly dry season, the supply would be diminished, or 
would temporarily cease; and on the other hand, after an 
unusually large fall of rain, the quantity discharged from them 
in a given time would be greatly increased. But in regard to 
thermal springs, these causes have no influence. In winter 
and in summer, in dry seasons, and in wet seasons, a 
certain number of gallons per minute are poured out with 
an undeviating regularity. Moreover, if these waters were 

* ‘ ‘ The springs in Greece still flow at the same places as in the Hellenic 
times : the spring of Erasinos, on the slope of the Chaon, two hours’ journey 
to the south of Argos, was mentioned by Herodotus ; the Cassotis at Delphi, 
now the well of St. Nicholas, still rises on the south of the Lesche, and its 
waters pass under the temple of Apollo ; the Castalian fount still flows at 
the foot of Parnassus, and the Pirenian near Acro-Corinth; the thermal 
waters of ^Idepsos in Eubcea, in which Sylla bathed during the war of 
Mithridates, still exist. I take pleasure in citing these details, which 
show that, in a country subject to frequent and violent earthquakes, the 
relative condition of the strata, and even of those narrow fissures through 
which these waters find a passage, has continued unaltered during at least 
two thousand years. ”— Cosmos (Lieut*- Col. Scibine s Ldiliouj vol. i. 








92 ORIGIN OF THE TEPID WATERS. 

derived from the atmosphere, the colder the season, the 
lower would be their temperature; and certainly, likewise, 
the larger the quantity of the water poured forth, the lower 
would be its temperature. But, through long series of years, 
not only does the quantity of water poured out by these 
springs in a given time, remain the same as it was at the 
most remote record, but their temperature remains steadily 
the same as when first noticed. Supposing the ocean 
to be the source from which these springs derive their 
supply of water, the definite quantity may be forced through 
the fissures, either by its gravity, or by the pressure of the 
superincumbent waters,—this definite quantity may be 
converted into steam, by the means presently to be noticed, 
—the steam may be condensed, and cooled to a definite 
degree, by passing through a definite space,—and supposing 
no waste to arise, from leakage or otherwise, 129^ gallons of 
water per minute, containing the same gaseous and saline 
constituents as now and heretofore, may continue to 
supply the natural baths of Buxton throughout ages to 
come. 

The absence of sea-salt in any of the thermal springs, might 
at first be considered to be fatal to the above views. But 
it has been sufficiently proved by direct experiment, that sea 
water is deprived of its saline constituents, by passing 
through a certain thickness of sand, &c.; and, therefore, the 
passing through we know not how many miles in depth of 
various strata, would necessarily deprive it of all its saline 
matters, even if the hypothesis of its conversion into steam, 




CxlUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATEES. 


93 


and consequent separation from every foreign ingredient, 
were thrown aside. 

Knowing as we do the gigantic extent of the processes of 
nature, and the uniformity of the means used to effect the 
same results, in different places and at different times, it may 
probably be inferred that the same cause, which produces 
the supply of water in the instance of any one of the thermal 
springs, might equally serve to account for it in the others. 
Some general source, which may equally serve in regard to 
all thermal springs, is therefore sought for. But in regard 
to the Buxton thermal springs, the circumstance obtains that, 
in various situations, at no far removed distances, in the 
limestone formation, surface springs are swallowed up by 
fissures or cracks in the strata ; some of which are found to 
re-appear at the surface, at different distances from what is 
locally called the swallow; and the whole of these may or may 
not so re-appear. It could not be thought to be impossible, 
that such swallowed up spring or springs should travel 
through such fissures, and serve to supply some vast sub¬ 
terranean reservoir, from which the supply of water to be 
vaporised might be obtained. 

The cause of the elevated temperature of thermal springs, 
is a question of still more immediate interest. 

As has been said, thermal springs are always found in the 

greatest abundance, in the neighbourhood of active or 
recently active volcanoes; and volcanoes are hardly ever 
found to exist, without giving rise to springs of tepid water. 
In those situations where no traces of volcanic agency can 









94 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


be detected in the neighbourhood of tepid springs, these 
waters are found to issue from the primary rocks, either 
directly, or from beds of inconsiderable thickness, which 
evidently form merely a crust over rocks of the primary 
class. In some instances, the tepid springs are found in 
the midst of chains of mountains, or close to their base; in 
other instances, a succession of such springs is found in the 
same direction as that in which a mountain chain extends ; 
sometimes, they “gush out at or near to the line of 
junction between the granite or other igneous products, and 
the stratified rock resting upon its flanks, which from its 
highly inclined position would seem to have been upheaved; 
whilst in a few cases where they occur in the midst of the 
granite itself, patches of stratified rock are found contiguous. 
Thus the same agent which forced up the granite through 
the axis of the chain, may have given rise to the hot springs 
which accompany it first along the line of the disruption. 
* * * * In man y instances where the general aspect of 

this country does not so forcibly impress upon the mind the 
idea of volcanic forces having been in active operation, there 
is something in the particular circumstances of the locality 
indicative of the same kind of agency.” (Professor Daubeny 
on Volcanoes .) 

Professor Daubeny goes on to cite the tepid spring at 
Clifton, as gushing out of a narrow fissure of hard rock, 
bounded by abrupt cliffs, with an enormous fault near to the 
mouth of the spring “ which has thrown down the limestone 
beds one hundred and twenty feet,” serving to justify the 




CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


95 


opinion that a mighty force has at some period rent these 
rocks in sunder, and opened a passage for the tepid water 
from deeply-seated strata ;—he cites Matlock “ from the 
abruptness of the cliffs which bound the defile on either 
side, and from the existence of an enormous fault, much of 
the same description as that of Clifton,” and justly adds 
“ that the volcanic rocks which are found in many parts of 
Derbyshire afford an additional presumption that the tepid 
waters of that country owe their origin to volcanic heat— 
he cites the warm springs of Carlsbad, as emerging from “ a 
kind of conglomerate, composed of broken masses of granite 
united together by a siliceous cement,” leading to the 
inference of riven rocks and shattered fragments and 
disrupted strata;—he cites the warm springs of Pfeffers, in 
the Grisons, bursting forth from the side of an extraordinary 
chasm in a limestone rock ; adding that “ the other thermal 
springs in Switzerland appear under circumstances for the 
most part similar,” and that “the situation of the thermal 
waters in the beautiful mountain region of Virginia, west of 
the Blue Ridge, which I visited in 1838, strongly corroborates 
the views above enunciated;” “in short, out of fifty-six 
springs more or less thermal, forty-six are situated on, or 
adjacent to, anticlinal axes; seven on or near lines of fault 
and inversion; and three, the only group of this kind yet 
known in Virginia, close to the point of junction of the 
Appalachian with the Hypogene rocks.” 

The position of the different tepid springs in Derbyshire 
confirms these views strongly. Not only do the broken and 










96 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


shattered strata, and the abrupt cliffs, and frequently 
occurring patches of toadstone, tell of volcanic action and 
riven rocks, and account for fissures by which such springs 
could find egress ; but the springs occur near to the edge of 
the limestone formation in every instance; and in such 
situation, the continuity would be more likely to be broken 
through, down to more deeply seated strata. 

Connecting these facts together, the conclusion seems to 
he justifiable, that thermal springs arise from beneath rocks 
of the primary class, through disruptions which have been 
caused by volcanic agency; and granting that thermal 
springs arise from terrestrial depths below all the strata 
which have been the subject of geological knowledge, it 
would remain to be shown whether the temperature of the 
interior of the earth may be adequate to raise large quantities 
of water, brought into successive contact with it, to the 
boiling temperature. 

It has been observed, in many countries of high latitude, 
that when the atmospheric temperature falls below a certain 
point, the temperature of the springs in those countries 
ceases to fall in the same ratio; and, in fact, that their 
temperature often exceeds that of the air. Nor have these 
singular observations been confined to the springs of the 
countries referred to. It is well known, that a certain 
elevation of temperature is essential to the life of plants, and 
that different plants have different ranges of temperature 
within which they can live. It is said to have been ascer¬ 
tained, that rye requires for its growth a temperature 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


97 


of not less than 46°; and yet, owing to tlie internal 
temperature which emanates from the earth, independent of 
the solar influence, this grain is grown and ripened in 
Sweden, where the atmospheric temperature is little more 
than 36°. It would seem indeed, that the mean terrestrial 
temperature exceeds the atmospherical in many northern 
districts, if not in northern countries generally; and that it 
is owing to this, that nearly the whole of Siberia, the upper 
parts of Finland, and some parts of Sweden, afford harvests 
and sustenance to the inhabitants, under a degree of 
atmospheric temperature which would be insufficient for 
these purposes, but for the inherent temperature of the 
earth. That this cannot be owing to the absorption of the 
solar heat during the warmer months, appears to have been 
proved by experiments, showing that six months are required 
for the absorption of heat to the comparatively trifling depth 
of thirty feet. But this is proved even still more conclusively 
by the ascertained fact, that the atmospheric temperature at 
the equator is higher than that of the perennial springs. 

These observations would go far to establish an opinion, 
that the earth possesses a considerable degree of internal 
heat, which would almost necessarily become more consider¬ 
able the greater the distance from the surface. But it is 
by the results of experiments which have been made in 
mines, that it has been established as a fact, that the deeper 
we penetrate beneath the surface of the earth, the higher 
the temperature is, and that we are enabled to form some 
idea of the depth at which the earth may be at so high a 

F 


I 

















98 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


temperature, as would suffice for tlie conversion of water 
into steam. 

In the ancient quarries below the observatory at Paris, at 
the depth of only ninety-two feet, the temperature is nearly 
2° higher than that of the mean temperature of the country. 
If the temperature of subterranean springs be taken as a 
guide, to indicate the increased temperature of the earth as 
we penetrate more deeply below its surface, it has been 
found, to cite one out of many such observations, that in the 
copper mine of Dolcoath, in Cornwall, at the depth of 
1440 feet, the temperature of the spring is 82°, while the 
mean temperature of the country is only 50°; or, to 
mention another instance, that in the silver mine of 
G-uanaxuato, in Mexico, at the depth of 1713 feet, the 
temperature of the springs is more than 98°, and the mean 
temperature of the country little more than 60°. 

But it is chiefly by ascertaining the temperature of the 
rock itself, at different depths, that a fixed conclusion may 
be arrived at, as to the rate of increase in the temperature, 
as we descend more and more deeply into the bowels of the 
earth. And the result of such observations, many of which 
have been made, with great care, and possible sources of 
fallacy watchfully guarded against, is that the earth becomes 
warmer by one degree for every forty-four feet of depth; 
and, consequently, at a depth of little more than 7000 feet 
below the surface of the earth, the temperature would be 
sufficient to raise water to the boiling point, and convert it 
into steam: a depth which bears no greater proportion to 















CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


09 


the diameter of the globe than a few inches bear to 
a mile. # 

It must be admitted that this would be sufficient to 
account for the elevated temperature of thermal waters, 
were their temperature the only particular which dis¬ 
tinguishes them from other water. The intimate connec¬ 
tion that there is between these waters and volcanoes has, 
however, led to repeated suggestions, that these may or must 
have something more to do with the production of these 
waters, than merely the having forced the channel by which 
they escape to the surface. Snow, to the depth of two feet 
and a half, remained unmelted on Vesuvius, after the 
eruption had lasted two days, in the year 1822 ; and the 

* “ Hot springs,” writes Baron Humboldt, “issue from rocks of every 
kind ; the hottest permanent springs yet known are those found by myself, 
at a distance from any volcano,—the ‘ Aquas calientes de las Trincheras,’ 
in South America, between Porto Cabello and New Valencia, and the 
‘ Aquas de Comangillas, ’ in the Mexican territory, near Guanaxuato. The 
first of these had a temperature of 194*5° Fahr., and issued in granite ; 
the latter in basalt, with a temperature of 205*5° Fahr. According to our 
present knowledge of the increase of heat at increasing depths, the strata, 
by contact with which these temperatures were acquired, are probably 
situated at a depth of about 7800 English feet, or above two geographical 

miles.The elevation of the new volcano of Jorullo, unknown 

before my American journey, offers a remarkable example of ordinary rain¬ 
watersinking to a great depth, where it acquires heat, and afterwards reappears 
at the surface as a thermal spring. When, in September, 1759, Jorullo 
-was suddenly elevated to a height of 1682 English feet above the surrounding 
plain, the two small streams called Rio de Cutimba and Rio de San Pedro 
disappeared, and some time afterwards broke forth afresh from the ground 
during severe earthquake shocks, forming springs, whose temperature, in 
1803, I found to be 150*4° Fahr.”— Cosmos. 


L.of 0. 








100 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


observers were able to keep their naked hands on the 
margin of the lava stream without inconvenience, at a time 
when the centre of it was still in a fluid state. This proves 
how slowly heat passes through the volcanic products; and 
it has been urged that it is possible there may be masses of 
melted material, thus crusted over, of enormous size, 
situated at great depths in the bowels of the earth; and 
that such masses may have retained a highly elevated 
temperature, during periods long anterior to any of our 
records ; and that currents of water, passing close to, or 
near, these masses, would be vaporised by them, and might 
form hot springs, the temperature of which might not 
necessarily undergo any perceptible diminution during 
hundreds of years. 

"With satisfactory proof of the astonishing fact, that at a 
few thousands of feet below the earth’s surface, its strata 
are at a great elevation of temperature, it would seem 
needless to indulge in speculation as to any other cause 
for the heat of waters, which are known to proceed from 
great depths, and probably from greater depths than geology 
has made us acquainted with, and at which no other cause 
than the temperature of the globe itself would be needful 
to convert water into steam.* 

* “ Tlie relation, indeed, of almost all springs impregnated copiously 
■with, mineral matter to the sources of subterranean heat, seems placed 
beyond all doubt by modern research. Mineral waters, as they have been 
termed, are most abundant in regions of active volcanoes, or where earth¬ 
quakes are most frequent and violent. Their temperature is often very 




















CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


101 


But, in truth, the ingredients of mineral waters, both 
gaseous and saline, being identically the same as the 
materials discharged from the bowels of the earth in 
volcanic eruptions, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion 
that these waters proceed from volcanic centres, and 
probably derive from volcanism all their characteristics. It 
should be remembered that we are not driven to this 
conclusion, on account of any difficulty in explaining the 
elevated temperature of thermal waters, which might be due 
to the internal heat of the depths of the earth, but on 
account of the chemical characters and distinctions of all 
thermal springs. Chlorine, chiefly in combination with 
hydrogen, as muriatic acid,—sulphur, in combination with 
oxygen, or with hydrogen,—carbonic acid,—the chlorides of 
soda and of lime, sulphate of lime,—and oxydes of iron 
variously combined with carbonic acid, &c.,—are all the 
common products of volcanoes, and the ingredients most 


liigh, and lias been known to be permanently heightened or lowered by the 
shock of an earthquake. The volume of vvater also given out has been 
sometimes affected by the same cause. With the exception of silica, the 
minerals entering most abundantly into thermal waters do not seem to 
differ from those in cold springs. There is, moreover, a striking analogy 
between the earthy matters evolved in a gaseous state by volcanoes, and 
those wherewith the springs in the same region are impregnated ; and 
when we proceed from the site of active to that of extinct volcanoes, we 
find the latter abounding in precisely the same kind of springs. Where 
thermal and mineral waters occur far from active or extinct volcanoes, 
some great internal derangement in the strata almost invariably marks the 
site to have been, at some period, however remote, the theatre of violent 
earthquakes .”—LyeWs Geology. 







103 


CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


commonly found in mineral waters. And indeed all thermal 
waters may thus be grouped into one great family, pro¬ 
bably identical in origin, singularly alike in chemical 
characters, and entirely independent of local causes, in 
regard to their temperature, their flow of water, and 
the amount of their saline and gaseous impregnation. 
Whereas the other kinds of springs, even although their 
saline ingredients may be similar to those which are 
contained in some of the thermal waters, are dependent on 
local influences, are affected by wet or by drought, and by 
variations in the local temperature ; and their geological and 
geographical positions are materially different from those of 
the thermal springs. It seems to be an unavoidable 
conclusion, that the cause of volcanic action, so uncertain as 
to time, degree, and duration, must be chemical. The heat, 
the steam, the evolution of gases, all denote the operation of 
chemical affinities, new combinations, disturbed forces, 
produced and operating on a gigantic scale, and with 
proportionate and vast consequences. It seems to be only 
necessary to infer that such chemical action should be 
moderated in degree, by dilution of the re-agents, or by the 
constraining influence of mechanical difficulties or hin¬ 
drances, in order to explain a more regular series of similar 
phenomena of less violent character; or such moderated 
action might follow, and be continued for long periods of time, 
after the chemical changes had been accomplished in regard 
to the substances of more powerful affinities, or presenting 
greater mechanical facility for their display. It may well 




CAUSE OF THE HEAT OF THE WATERS. 


103 


be, that such gradations of action are equal to produce 
columns of boiling water or seas of melted lava, to eject 
them with enormous force, or fearful violence, amid the cold 
desolation of Iceland, or from the summit of Vesuvius,—or 
to charge so much water with gaseous and saline consti¬ 
tuents, and produce a certain elevation of its temperature, 
and cause it to be poured forth as a thermal spring. 

Theories have been broached, and arguments and facts 
advanced, to extend the chemical theory of volcanic action, 
far beyond what has now been stated. The merit of much 
scientific tact, and of having collected and arranged facts 
and observations, of great interest and value in regard to 
this question, is due to Professor Daubeny, whose great 
work on volcanoes has been already referred to. 










CHAPTEE IV. 


—♦— 

GENERAL PROPERTIES OE THE BUXTON TEPID WATERS. 
RESULTS OE SUCCESSIYE ANALYSIS. COMMENTARY 
ON THEIR COMPOSITION, IN REFERENCE TO THEIR 
MEDICINAL EFEECTS. 

The tepid mineral waters of Buxton are bright and clear in 
a remarkable degree. When seen in a glass vessel, as 
dispensed to the drinkers of the waters, or when seen in the 
flows and conduits, their brilliancy is very noticeable. There 
is, moreover, a perceptible shade of colour in the waters—a 
faint tinge of blue—which is peculiar to them, and serves to 
distinguish them from the ordinary waters of the district. It 
is strange that this tinge of colour should have been denied 
by Dr. Pearson; but he did not enjoy the same opportunity 
of observing it which we now possess. In the old and 
imperfectly lighted baths, the great transparency of the 
waters could be noticed, but their brilliancy was wholly 
unobservable, and this tinge of colour was necessarily not 
noticeable. In the well-lighted apartments which now 
contain the baths, the mass and depth of the water exhibit 
the transparency, brilliancy, and colour, in the best 
manner. The colour has been supposed, at different times, 




BRILLIANCY OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


105 


to be due to various mineral ingredients, believed to be 
contained in tbe waters, but not in sufficient quantity to be 
detected. At an early period, copper was thought to be the 
colouring ingredient; in more recent times, iodine was 
inferred to be a probable cause of the colour. The only 
purpose served, has been to indicate that the colour has 
always been a subject of remark, even in remote times. 
Attention has been directed to all the different causes to 
which it might be referable ; and unless it could be due to 
the small proportion of iron, which has now been ascer¬ 
tained to be among its constituents, the cause of the blue 
tinge is still unknown. The brilliancy is due to the large 
quantity of gas which it holds in solution, and which is 
given off from it in the form of minute bubbles. If a bottle 
of transparent glass is filled with the water, and held 
between the eye and the light, the water will be seen to be 
charged with these bubbles; most of them being exceedingly 
small, but clustered quite closely together. In the largest ot 
the natural baths, at the instant of the escape of the water 
from the bowels of the earth, and from the great pressure to 
which it must there be subjected, much larger bubbles of gas 
are given off, somewhat irregularly; sometimes as large as a 
billiard-ball, and sometimes in considerable numbers. The gas 
forming these large bubbles, which are so much more notice¬ 
able than the minute bubbles, bears a very small proportion 
to the quantity of gas which is given off more slowly, in the 
form of the small bubbles. The greater proportion of the gas 

quickly escapes, when the water is exposed to the air ; but 

f 3 






106 


BUOYANCY OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


if carefully bottled, corked, and sealed, it would contain 
much of the gas for an indefinite time. The appearance 
of the large bubbles of the gas, rising like soap-bubbles 
through the masses of the water in the bath, is curious and 
beautiful. The quantity of gas with which the water is 
charged, giving it much the appearance of the effervescing 
wines, or of the artificially aerated waters after the first 
violence of their effervescence has subsided, adds much to 
the buoyancy of the water in the baths. Feeble invalids 
have to be cautioned as to the buoyant character of the 
water, as it renders care, and the having the hand-rails or 
the bath-chains in ready grasp, to be needful in the instance 
of infirm and feeble bathers. When limbs are more or less 
paralysed, or even much enfeebled, there is sometimes a 
difficulty in keeping them under the surface of the water. 
In extreme cases of diminished command over the limbs, or 
of great debility, the affected parts, and sometimes even the 
whole body, have to be held by attendants under the surface 
of the water. Unless in such extreme conditions of system, 
the buoyancy of the water in the baths is simply an enjoyable 
characteristic of the water, and greatly facilitates the use of 
muscular exercise during the immersion. 

The effect of the temperature of the natural water on the 
bathers, is somewhat different from what might have been 
expected. The degree of shock commonly experienced at 
the instant of immersion, is usually greater than would be 
looked for, from bathing in water of so much higher a 
temperature than that of the air. When the bath is made 




SHOCK AND REACTION FROM BATHING. 


107 


use of under proper circumstances, the shock and sense of 
chill are only momentary effects, being immediately followed 
by efficient reaction. If judiciously used, there ought to be 
no return of chill during the stay of the bather in the water; 
nor should there be any chilliness, unless for a single 
moment, on leaving the bath. The reaction should be 
maintained during the whole of the time that the bather 
remains in the water, after the primary and momentary 
shock; and it should be maintained, and indeed it is 
desirable that it should increase, for some hours after 
leaving the bath. The reaction often continues throughout 
the whole remainder of the day, sometimes lasts throughout 
the following night, and is occasionally found to be con¬ 
tinued during the whole of the subsequent day. These 
latter cases are rare ; and, it may be observed, these extreme 
effects usually show that the warmer baths of these waters 
would be more suitable for such cases than the natural 
baths; and that baths of these waters, of any temperature, 
should be used with much caution and moderation as to the 
time of remaining in the water, and as to the frequency of 
using the bath. Such cases are, although comparatively 
rare, sufficiently numerous to form an important feature in 
the history of the effects of these waters upon the human 
system. And, in regard to the cases in which the shock 
occasioned by the bath is not merely momentary, but con¬ 
tinues more or less during the time of immersion, or even 
afterwards, it may likewise be said that the natural bath is 
seldom used judiciously, or even without risk, under these 






108 


STIMULATING EFFECT OF THE BATHS. 


circumstances. The use of the warmer baths will commonly 
be found to be preferable in these cases. The stimulating 
effect of these baths is not only observable in regard to the 
degree of reaction, or glow of increased warmth; and, in 
the exceptional cases, by the feverish heat which follows their 
use ; but also in regard to the system generally. The spirits, 
the digestion, and the appetite, are all so much stimulated, 
as to convince those bathers who may have been previously the 
most sceptical, as to the powerful and extraordinary action 
of the baths of these waters upon the animal economy. In 
the course of the last eighteen years, a very large number of 
medical men have been led to make trial of the Buxton 
baths for the relief of their own ailments; and many of 
these gentlemen have had their trust in the medicinal value 
of the water much shaken by the older analyses, and have 
expressed their incredulity, in sufficiently unqualified terms, 
before using the bath. But this want of belief in the 
peculiar and remarkable character of the waters has never 
failed to be removed by the use of the bath, even on the 
first time of bathing. The gaseous character of the waters, 
so evident when bathing in them,—and the marked degree 
of excitement which follows the use of the bath,—have 
invariably produced a complete recantation of all preliminary 
doubts and disparaging opinions. 

The stimulating effect produced by the bath usually lasts 
during the subsequent twelve or fourteen hours. In cases 
of disordered action, the use of the bath is sometimes 
followed by an increase of feverishness, pain, or stiffness, 


109 


THE WATER-FEVER. 

according to the nature of the ailment. This effect may 
begin to he felt from six to twelve hours after bathing, and 
may continue in greater or less degree, from a few hours 
to twenty-four hours, or longer. It is almost always 
desirable, that this effect should be allowed to subside, 
before the bath is made use of again. There is a more 
lasting effect of this kind, which frequently follows the use 
of several baths of this water, and which is well described as 
the water-fever. This is often to be regarded as an indica¬ 
tion, that the baths are acting upon and influencing the 
system and the morbid condition, and that the use of them 
will be eventually beneficial; the question for consideration 
being, perhaps, whether their use should be interrupted, or 
whether they should be used more sparingly, or whether 
the use of the warm baths should be substituted for that of 
the natural baths, either temporarily or otherwise. These 
more powerful effects of the baths are usually controlled by 
using them only every second, or every third day, or on two 
successive days with the interruption of the third day; and 
by regulating the time of remaining in the bath, according 
to the strength, excitability, and other peculiarities of 
individual cases. Such restrictions have, moreover, an 
additional object. Whether the primary excitement from 
the use of the baths is considerable in its degree or other¬ 
wise, and whether the water-fever is evidenced strongly or 
otherwise, a course of these baths is almost always followed 
by some degree of general debility. This is first noticeable 
in the circulation: the pulse at the wrist, and the heart’s 




110 


SECONDARY EFFECT OF THE BATHS. 


action become more feeble; but it is early marked by 
languor and feebleness, and indisposition to make any 
exertion, and despondency, diminished appetite, and dis¬ 
turbed or lethargic sleep. The degree of this secondary 
effect of the baths is usually inconsiderable; and it is 
generally of short duration, when the baths are made use of 
with the interruption of certain days, when the course is not 
unwisely prolonged, and when the several immersions have not 
been for too long a time. But it is right to say, that when 
such precautions are not used, these effects are sometimes 
so great as to be of serious importance. It would not be 
to give a fair account of the medicinal effect of the Buxton 
baths, nor to offer a caution which is often needful, as to 
the use of the baths, if this were not thus stated in un¬ 
qualified terms. It often happens, that strong and otherwise 
healthy individuals, suffering only from localised rheumatism 
of some part of the trunk of the body, or of the limbs, 
referable to exposure to cold and wet,—as in the instance 
of miners, who frequently have to lie down at their work, 
with one or both legs, and perhaps one hip, and perhaps 
even one side of the body, covered with water, and this 
during days and even weeks in succession,—are tempted, 
from an anxiety to obtain relief, and to be in a condition to 
return to their homes as soon as possible, to bathe more 
frequently than is advised, or to remain longer in the bath 
than is directed, with the consequence of a sudden and great 
prostration of power, sometimes resulting in important and 
serious disease. Within a single week, such strong and 





HISTORY OF SUCCESSIVE ANALYSES. 


Ill 


even athletic patients, without appreciable disturbance or de¬ 
ranged function of any internal viscus, with an ascertained 
healthy condition of the circulation, respiration, membranes, 
and faculties, have presented themselves in a state of much 
languor and exhaustion, evidenced by the condition of the 
heart’s action, and every other least mistakeable indication ; 
and all this extreme effect been referable only to the use 
of the bath daily, and the having remained in the bath 
every time from five to fifteen minutes longer than had been 
desired. 

Such effects as these are not experienced after the use of 
baths of ordinary water at any temperature, or repeated or 
continued to any extent; and the inquiry is naturally and 
at once suggested, as to the cause to which these effects are 
to be ascribed. The chemical constitution of these waters has 
therefore been a subject of speculation and inquiry, from the 
earliest records. It can be no subject of surprise, that every 
generation of men, seeing the great and marvellous healing 
powers of these waters, should have become dissatisfied with 
the investigations as to their chemical ingredients which had 
hitherto been made, feeling their utter inadequacy to explain 
so considerable an amount of medicinal effect. And thus, 
during the long space of nearly three hundred years, have 
these waters been the subject of anxious and painstaking 
investigation, to the successive generations of chemists and 
medical men ; leaving every succeeding race of investigators 
virtually as unable as before to explain satisfactorily and 
conclusively the effect of the waters, by reference to their 






112 


SPECULATIVE INFERENCES OF DR. JONES. 


ascertained composition. And yet the confidence expressed 
by the successive generations of medical observers, has been 
unvarying ; and the kinds of disease for the relief of which 
they are found to be so useful, are the same as in the earliest 
times. The temperature, and the flow, and the clearness 
and brightness, and the freedom from smell or very marked 
taste, have been no less unvarying, than the effects on certain 
morbid conditions of the human system, and than the 
chemical constituents, whatever these may be. 

After the imperfect investigation which the state of science 
in that age enabled him to make, Dr. Jones, in his curious book 
(published in the year 1572),is obliged to content himself with 
the conclusion, that the qualities of the water are due to the 
presence of “ some excellent ore, rather than either brim¬ 
stone, alum, bitumen, iron, copper, or any such like, for then 
it should in drinking be perceived by the taste. Albeit true 
it is, as affinneth Gfalen, all such hot baths of such minerals 
have force of drying, but in these you have no such sense, 
but so fair, so pleasant, and so delectable, that it would seem 
to be a dulce bath made by art, rather than by nature ; 
howbeit the effects declare brimstone to be therein. Sea 
water often strained through sand, becomes sweet, and so 
may these waters being strained through the earth, lose 
their mineral taste, but retain great virtue both manifest 
and hidden.” Here may be remarked, even in those earlier 
days, when analytical chemistry could do so little, the full 
admission as to the powerful effect of the waters upon 
disease, that this effect must be ascribed to some medicinal 









DR. LISTER^ AND DR. LEIGH'S OBSERVATIONS. 113 


constituent, and the conjecture that this constituent might 
be sulphur, or some similar agent, deprived by filtration, or 
some equally powerful means, of its taste and smell, but 
being left in other respects in an efficient conditon. Of the 
long catalogue of strangely named ailments, for which this 
water was then said to be curative, Dr. Jones places 
“ Rheums ” (rheumatism) at the head, as is done at the 
present time; and in the list, there are female weakness and 
irregularities, relaxed and irritable states of the mucous 
membranes, with their many and various morbid conse¬ 
quences : most clearly indicating, that the larger proportion 
of the invalids at that time resorting to the Buxton baths, 
were suffering from the same disordered conditions of 
system, as the greater number of those who make use of 
them at this time for the relief of their ailments. 

Dr. Lister, the second in date of the ancient investigators 
of the Buxton water, any traces of whose works have been 
preserved, describes the medicinal effects of the baths as 
being stimulating; and states that, if too long continued, 
they produce wasting, feverishness, and debility ; referring 
the effects to a small proportion of iron, which he affirms 
that he could taste, but could not otherwise detect; and 
stating, moreover, that the water contains a small proportion 
of common salt, and of calcareous earth. 

Dr. Leigh, who wrote previously to 1671, testifies to the 
“surprising effects ” which he had observed from the use of 
the baths, in cases of rheumatism. He says, “ persons that 
could not go before without the help of crutches, came from 








114 


dr. short’s investigations. 


thence to Manchester on foot without them, viz., sixteen 
miles.” The distance, according to the modern measure¬ 
ment, is twenty-four miles; and it will be noticed, that 
ancient authors generally, in mentioning the distances from 
place to place in the district, state them as being two-thirds 
of the distances as estimated by modern measurement. 
Dr. Leigh ascribes the medicinal effect of the water to 
“marine salt, and the sal catharticum amarum, with the 
nitrum calcarium.” 

Dr. Short, in 1733, made a much more careful chemical 
examination of the Buxton tepid water, than any which had 
been made previously. He says, in his preface: “ Many of 
the (mineral) waters in use have been so superficially exa¬ 
mined, that it is impossible to draw any certain conclusion 
concerning their contents, or what they are or are not; 
and therefore they should be more thoroughly searched and 
sifted ; Buxton, for instance, which though it has justly 
maintained its character these two thousand years, yet has 
there no pains been taken to discover its impregnating 
principles, except by Dr. John Jones (a Welshman, who 
lived some time at King’s Meadow, near Derby), near two 
hundred years ago ; and a transient visit made to it by 
Dr. Lister. Matlock, though much frequented of late 
years, yet the world are strangers to its contents, though 
some would have us believe that its virtues are exactly the 
same with those of Bristol (Clifton) ; but offer neither 
argument nor experiment to support their opinion.” He 
says: “ Since these waters continually bring up so large and 


dr. short’s investigations. 


115 


numerous bubbles with an impetuous force from the bowels 
of the earth, then must their interstices be richly stored 
with this line air; ” and he seems to have been inclined to 
refer the medical action of the waters, either directly or 
indirectly, to this air; but would not appear to have endea¬ 
voured to estimate the proportion of the air contained in 

i 

the waters, nor to ascertain its character. He ascribes the 
principal effects of the water to “ its warmth and mineral 
spirit; ” stating that he could not refer the medicinal effects 
to the solid chemical constituents, which he computed to be 
only 26 grains in the imperial gallon, of which he estimated 
13 grains to be calcareous, and the remainder to consist of 
marine salt and nitre in equal proportions. Dr. Short 
testifies to the good effects which he had seen from the use 
of the baths, in cases of gout and rheumatism; and then says, 
that he would refer the medicinal action of the waters to 
“ a subtle mineral principle or spirit, wrapt up in the air 
(contained in them).” He mentions the favourable effects 
from these baths, in cases of contraction and stiffness of the 
limbs, the consequence of “ rheumatic and arthritic pains.” 
He concludes that the water is highly impregnated with a 
mineral steam, vapour, or spirit, containing a most subtle 
and impalpable sulphur ; herein following the idea suggested 
by Dr. Jones so long before; but not seeming to be con¬ 
scious that he had borrowed the theory from any preceding 
writer, although he had quoted largely from Dr. Jones’s 
work. Dr. Short mentions the effects which he had 
witnessed from the use of the baths, in relieving uterine 




116 dr. hunter's and dr. percival's analyses. 

obstructions, in removing periosteal thickenings, in removing 
the effects of old sprains, in affording relief to certain 
disordered conditions of the kidneys and bladder; and he 
advises that both the baths and the drinking of the waters 
should be used with discrimination; by no means always 
or necessarily drinking the waters and using the bath at the 
same time, or in all cases; but drinking the waters in some 
cases, bathing in others, and in some cases using the waters 
in both ways. Dr. Short says also, “ let me add once for all, 
that as this water is of such a nature as I have mentioned, 
so it is not to be trifled with, for if it be unnecessarily used, 
it will certaiuly do harm; ” and he judiciously adds, that the 
use of the waters is not advisable in inflammatory cases, 
nor “ in consumptions attended with a rapid motion of the 
blood, and weak pulmonary vessels.” 

Dr. Hunter published a “ Treatise on the Nature and 
Virtues of the Waters of Buxton,” in 1765. The results of 
his analysis are nearly the same as those of Dr. Short. His 
estimate of the proportion of “calcareous earth” is some¬ 
what larger than that of Dr. Short, and of the proportion 
of “sea salt” and “native alkali,” is somewhat smaller; 
but his total results, as to the amount of the saline con¬ 
stituents, and their nature, are nearly the same. 

Dr. Percival made “ Experiments and Observations on the 
Buxton Waters,” which were published in the sixty-second 
volume of the “ Philosophical Transactions.” The estimate 
of the total saline constituents deducible from these experi¬ 
ments, is nearly the same as that of Dr. Short; and they 


DR. HIGGINS* AND DR. PEARSON’S ANALYSES. 117 

are referred to the headings—sea salt, calcareous earth, and 
alkali. 

Dr. Higgins published an analysis of the Buxton waters 
in 1782, and, so far as the solid constituents of the water, 
the analysis is singularly successful. With the needful 
correction, to make the result correspond with the imperial 
gallon of the water, it would be as follows :— 


Grains. 

Sea salt.4-6 

Calcareous earth, combined with acidulous gas . 15‘1 

Sulphate of lime . . . . . . 2'0 

Chloride of magnesium . . . . . 1 - 6 

Iron, combined with acidulous gas . . . 0 ’6 


Saline constituents in an imperial gallon . 23’9 


This appears to have been the only instance, previously to 
Dr. Lyon Playfair’s analysis, in which any trace of iron 
was detected in these waters. 

In 1784, Dr. Pearson published his great and excellent 
work, entitled “ Observations and Experiments for investi¬ 
gating the Chymical History of the Tepid Springs of 
Buxton.” It is to this analysis, that the discovery of the 
nature of the gaseous impregnation of the waters is to be 
referred. The following 'paragraph is a summary of the 
more important of Dr. Pearson’s observations and dis¬ 
coveries, which may be supposed to be still of general 
interest, or to bear upon the character and properties of the 
water in the present day. 

“ The water is of crystalline transparency, and is colour- 











118 SUMMARY OF DR. PEARSON^ OBSERVATIONS. 

less. When a large bulk of it is viewed together, as that 
contained in the baths, where it is four or five feet deep, it 
is colourless, and objects may be seen through it. This 
crystalline fluid exhibits bright bubbles, of the size of the 
smallest pin’s head, adhering to the sides of any vessel 
containing it, or whatever is immersed in it. The baths 
contain these bubbles in every part of them, especially upon 
a little agitation. Moreover, streams or clusters of these 
bubbles, of various sizes, from the magnitude of the smallest 
pin’s head to the bulk of a cherry, or even sometimes of a 
billiard ball, every now and then break out from the floorings 
of the baths, and dart perpendicularly upward, through the 
whole thickness of the water. In a portion of the water 
that has ceased to manifest bubbles in a temperate heat, 
by exposing it to a greater degree of heat, they will again 
appear. There is no smell from this fluid, nor will it 
become fetid by standing, as some have asserted. It is 
perfectly insipid; in particular, it has not the slightest 
acidulous taste. The temperature is 811 to 82 degrees, 
according to Fahrenheit’s scale. There is every reason to 
believe that this water has been of precisely the same tem¬ 
perature for many hundred, perhaps many thousand years. 
It has certainly been of the same heat, since this property 
was first determined by the use of specifically graduated 
thermometers, more than thirty years ago (1750-53). 
When the bath is agitated, as by the plunging of the bathers, 
the transparency of the water is changed to that of turbid¬ 
ness; but as soon as the commotion subsides, it becomes 








dr. pearson's experiments. 


119 


instantly clear as before. This turbid appearance has been 
ascribed to impurities or to sedimentary matters deposited 
on the pavement of the bath, and stirred up and mixed 
with the water; but it certainly is not occasioned by this 
circumstance, because it may be produced at all times, even 
immediately after the bath has been thoroughly cleansed 
and re-filled, and when there is no sediment either observ¬ 
able, or by any possibility present. Moreover, when glass 
vessels were filled with this turbid water, it appeared per¬ 
fectly clear, nor did it deposit any sediment on standing. 
(This muddy appearance is no doubt referable to the large 
quantity of gas, that is mixed with or suspended in the 
water). The medicinal qualities of this water chiefly 
depend upon a permanent vapour. This permanent vapour 
(gas) is inodorous, is not acidulous, occurs in exceedingly 
minute bubbles, which are diffused throughout the whole 
bulk of the water, and are not by any means merely 
adherent to the sides of the vessel containing it. This 
vapour (gas) is elastic, yielding to pressure, and recovering 
its former volume when the pressure is removed. It con¬ 
tinues as a vapour at all temperatures, and is colourless. It 
cannot support combustion. The gleam of a taper introduced 
into it was constantly extinguished. Animal life is sup¬ 
ported by it or maintained in it, during a much shorter time 
than if allowed to respire an equal amount of atmospheric 
air. Many kinds of water contain more atmospheric air 
than this water, and many kinds of water contain more 
carbonic acid gas; but none appear to contain the same 





120 


DR. PEARSON S RESULTS AND INFERENCES. 


amount as this water, of this peculiar, elastic, and aeriform 
principle. We are instructed, as the results of many 
experiments, that this water does not contain any impreg¬ 
nation which is evidenced to the senses, except the permanent 
vapour, which is not carbonic acid gas, nor any vapour 
which is odorous,—that the heat of the water much exceeds 
the temperature of the ordinary springs of the district; 
the temperature of such springs being usually about 48 or 
50 degrees;—and that the water contains acid of vitriol 
(sulphuric acid) and marine acid (muriatic acid), combined 
with lime and alkali, and carbonic acid combined with lime, 
in addition to its impregnation with the permanent vapour.” 

Dr. Pearson estimated the gaseous impregnation to be 
only T^th part of the bulk of the water, at ordinary tem¬ 
perature, and under ordinary pressure; and the following 
was the result of his analysis of the solid ingredients— 


In the Imperial Gallon. 


Grains. 

Chloride of sodium ..... 

2-333 

Sulphate of lime . . . . . . 

3-333 

Carbonate of lime ..... 

14-000 

Total solid ingredients per imperial gallon 

19-666 


or 191 grains. 

In the year 1819, or thirty-five years after the date of 
Dr. Pearson’s analysis, Sir Charles Scudamore and Mr. 
Garden jointly examined the Buxton tepid waters, with the 

appliances and greater accuracy of the more advanced state 
of science. 











SIU CHARLES SCUDAMORE^ ANALYSIS. 


1*21 


According to the careful and excellent analysis performed 
by these gentlemen, the imperial gallon of the waters was 
estimated to contain— 


Grains. 

Chloride of magnesium . . . . *773 

Chloride of sodium . . . . 3'200 

Sulphate of lime ..... *800 

Carbonate of lime . . . . . 13*866 

Extractive matter . . . . , *666 

Loss ........ *693 


19*998 


or 20 grains of solid or saline matter. 

The examination of the gaseous impregnation of the 
water, served to confirm Dr. Pearson’s discovery as to the 
nature of the gas. In the words of Sir Charles Scudamore, 
“ Dr. Pearson found that the proportion of carbonic acid, 
in the Buxton water, did not exceed the half of what is 
found in many common springs. He had the merit of 
discovering the separate existence of azote in this water, 
a principle which had never been detected by any preceding 
chemist in any water. In the imperfect state of chemistry, 
thirty-six years ago (1783-1819), the nature of azote was 
unknown, and he described it, ‘ as being a permanent vapour, 
composed probably of air and phlogiston.’ The present 
analysis gave about one-fifth more of azote in a gallon, than 
appears from Dr. Pearson’s conclusions.”* 

According to Sir Charles Scudamore’s and Mr. Garden’s 


* A Treatise on Mineral Waters. 2nd Edition. London, 1833. 


G 














122 


SIR CHARLES SCUDAMORE^ ANALYSIS. 


analysis, the imperial gallon of the waters appeared to con¬ 
tain of gaseous impregnation— 

Cubic Inches. 

Carbonic acid ...... 2‘00 

Nitrogen ....... 6‘18 

Total ....... 8’18 

The proportion of nitrogen was supposed to be rather 
more than three times that of the carbonic acid contained 
in the waters. 

In 1852, the water was analysed by Dr. Lyon Playfair, 
with the subjoined result. 


Analytical Report on the Water of the Thermal Springs of 
Buxton , by Dr. Lyon Playfair, C.B.,F.B.S. 

“Museum of Practical Geology and Government School of Mines. 

“ London, July 1852. 

“ To Sidney Smithers, Esq. 

“ Sir,—In consequence of a request made by you, on 
behalf of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, I visited 
Buxton on the 8th and 9th of April, for the purpose of 
collecting the water of the thermal spring for analysis. 

“ The water was collected partly in glass-stoppered bottles, 
and partly in earthenware jars. The gas, as it issued from 
the crevices of the rock and bubbled through the water, was 
caught by an inverted funnel, and collected in glass bottles 
filled with the thermal water itself. These bottles were 




DR. LYON PLAYFAIR*S ANALYSIS. 


123 


then sealed on the spot; and the evidence derived from the 
gas contained in them, shows that the precautions used for 
preventing the access of air were quite successful. 

“It is not necessary for me to describe the physical 
conditions under which the thermal springs appear at 
Buxton. It may be sufficient to state, that they issue from 
fissures in the limestone, and are accompanied by frequent, 
but intermittent bursts of gas, which escapes partly as large 
bubbles, and partly in innumerable small bubbles, giving to 
water freshly collected in glass vessels, all the appearance 
of soda water. 

“ The water is clear, sparkling, inodorous, and when cool 
is almost tasteless. Its temperature is 82° Fahrenheit, and 
its specific gravity T0003. 

“Tw r o points had specially to be attended to in the analysis 
of the waters,—firstly, to ascertain the nature and quantities 
of the ingredients in solution, and, secondly, the character 
and composition of the gas accompanying them. 

In order to be sure that every ingredient came under my 
observation, I caused 100 gallons of the water to be 
evaporated down to about half a gallon, and examined the 
deposit and residual solution for bodies which might be 
present in such small quantity as to escape detection in the 
unconcentrated water. The precaution was found to have 
been necessary, for, in addition to the ordinary constituents 
of the waters, two more rarely occurring bodies—viz. fluorine 
and phosphoric acid—were found to be present, although 
only in minute quantity. The amount of fluorine was, 













dr. lyon playfair’s analysis. 


1*24 

however, sufficient to etch glass when applied with proper 
precautions. Neither iodine nor bromine could be detected. 

“ The following analysis gives the amount and nature of 
the solid ingredients in one imperial gallon of the water 
at 60°:— 

Grains. 

Silica ......... 0*666 

Oxide of iron and alumina . . . . .. 0*240 

Carbonate of lime . . * . . . . 7*773 

Sulphate of lime ........ 2*323 

Carbonate of magnesia. . . . . . .4*543 

Chloride of magnesium . . . . . .. 0*114 

Chloride of sodium . . . . . . .2*420 

Chloride of potassium ....... 2*500 

Fluorine (as fluoride of calcium) . . . . . trace 

Phosphoric acid (as phosphate of lime) .... trace 

20*579 

“ On examining the water, there were found present 
carbonic acid and nitrogen, in addition to the solid ingre¬ 
dients. It was important to estimate the amount of the 
former in an exact manner. Some of the water was 

received from the spring into a glass-stoppered bottle, and 
the stopper was immediately inserted,and secured. One 
gallon of the w r ater was found to contain altogether 13*164 
grains of carbonic acid; but of this quantity, 5*762 grains 
were due to the carbonates of lime and magnesia, and 
therefore only 7*402 grains could in any sense be considered 
as free. Again, the carbonates of lime and magnesia are 
present as bicarbonates, or as carbonates dissolved in carbonic 






dr. lyon Playfair's analysis. 


125 


acid, and 5*762 grains of carbonic acid would require 
to be added for this purpose. Hence of the 7 402 grains, or 
15*66 cubic inches of gaseous carbonic acid in the water, 
only 1*640 grain, or 3 47 cubic inches, can be considered 
as wholly free and uncombined. 

“ The nitrogen in the water could only be present in 
solution, and not in combination ; and as there is no very 
accurate method for ascertaining the precise quantity of this 
gas in the water at any given temperature, it was considered 
chiefly important to ascertain accurately the composition of 
the escaping gas, as this would indicate that of the gas held 
in solution. The following are the analyses of two portions 
of the gas collected as formerly described, the analyses 
being given according to volume . 



i. 

n. 

Mean. 

Carbonic acid 

1*169 

1*164 

1*167 

Nitrogen 

98*831 

98*836 

98*833 

Oxygen 

trace 

trace 

trace 


100*000 

100*000 

100*000 


“ The gas, therefore, consists entirely of carbonic acid and 
nitrogen; for the oxygen, which did not amount to one-tenth 
per cent., may be viewed as quite accidental, arising pro¬ 
bably from the corks used to close the bottles. 

“ Judging from the analysis and proportion of the gases, 
it is assumed that at the moment of issue , the water is 
charged with 206 cubic inches of nitrogen, and 15*66 cubic 
inches of carbonic acid. This assumption is founded upon 
the proportional relation of the two gases. The proportion 








120 


dr. lyon playfair's analysis. 


of carbonic acid in the water being determined, and the pro¬ 
portion of carbonic acid to that of nitrogen contained in the 
water being 12 to 98 # 8, the amount of nitrogen contained 
in the water at the moment of issue may fairly be assumed 
to be 206 cubic inches per gallon. 

“ Before remarking further on the above analysis, it may 
be useful to refer to that by Scudamore. The analysis 
given by him was upon the wine gallon, which is one-fourth 
less than the imperial gallon. Correcting for this difference 
Scudamore found twenty grains of solid matter in a gallon— 
a result not materially different from that detailed above. 
The solid ingredients do indeed differ to some extent in the 
two analyses; but it must be recollected that analytical 
chemistry is now in a much more advanced state; and 
instead of being surprised at the differences, we are rather 
inclined to admire the precision with which the points had 
been made out. 

“ From a consideration of the previous analysis, I am 
inclined to ascribe the medicinal effects of the water almost 
entirely to its gaseous constituents. The water, deprived of 
its gases, has the composition of an ordinary spring water, 
with the exception of the fluorine and phosphoric acid, both 
of which are present in mere traces; and it is therefore 
difficult to conceive that they can have any medicinal effect 
when the water is used for baths. The gases are, however, 
nearly of the same composition as those of the thermal 
spring at Bath, and there is no reason to doubt that dis¬ 
solved carbonic acid and nitrogen may exert important 


dr. lyon playfair’s analysis. 


127 


physiological effects. At all events, the singular chemical 
character of the Buxton tepid water must be ascribed to its 
gaseous and not to its solid ingredients. 

“ Sir, 

“I have the honour to be 

“ Your obedient and faithful servant, 

“LYON PLAYFAIR, F.R.S.” 

The different analyses of these waters, which have been 
made at different and distant periods down to the present 
time, have thus been set forth, in order to indicate the 
difficulties wffiich have at all times attended the rationale 
of their effects in disease; and to show how early the 
opinion came to be entertained, that these effects might 
be ascribed, in a principal or important degree, to the 
character and quality of the gas, vapour, or halitus, which 
is contained in the water. It is admitted to be still 
difficult to determine the precise nature or extent of the 
effects of uncombined nitrogen, when introduced into the 
human system, whether by absorption through the skin, or 
through the mucous membrane of the stomach. It may 
even be true, that the whole of the medicinal effect of the 
water is not due to the nitrogen which it contains. It may 
be referable to some constituent, which even the greatly 
advanced state of modem chemistry has not been able to 
detect. But it is just to indicate, that the medicinal action 
of nitrogen may not be unequal to produce great medicinal 
effects, when so exhibited as to be absorbed into the system 



INFERENCES FROM THE ANALYSIS. 


128 


with great readiness, and in large amount. The effect of 
nitrogen throughout the economy of the earth, is now known 
to he very great and all-important. The agent which, only 
a few years ago, was considered to be simply a great diluent 
of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and to have only the effect 
of lessening the action of this great stimulating and oxydi- 
sing principle, nitrogen is now ascertained to be an 
important component of many animal substances, and an 
indispensable element in the nutriment of animal life. 
There is no single particular, in which the laborious and 
successful investigations of modern chemists, and the appli¬ 
cation of the results to physiology and pathology, have been 
so influential and important, as in the developement and 
elucidation of the importance of nitrogen, in its multiplied 
combined relations to the phenomena of life. The high 
authority of Baron Liebig may be quoted in support of this 
statement, in reference to its different and important 
bearings, by adducing a succession of sentences from 
his works. “All parts of the animal body which have 
a decided shape, which form parts of organs, contain 
nitrogen. No part of an organ which possesses motion 
and life is destitute of nitrogen.”—“All kinds of food 
fit for the production either of blood, or of cellular tissue, 
membranes, skin, hair, muscular fibre, &c., must contain 
a certain amount of nitrogen.”—“ Water and common 
fat are those ingredients of the body which are destitute 
of nitrogen. Both are amorphous or unorganised, and only 
so far take part in the vital process as that their 




USES AND IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN. 129 

presence is required for the due performance of the vital 
functions.”—“All such parts of vegetables as can afford 
nutriment to animals, contain certain constituents which 
are rich in nitrogen; and the most ordinary experience 
proves, that animals require for their support and nutrition 
less of those parts of plants, in proportion as they abound in 
the nitrogenised constituents.”—“ The chief ingredients of 
the blood contain 17 per cent, of nitrogen, and no part of an 
organ contains less than 17 per cent, of nitrogen.”—“All 
experience proves, that there is, in the organism, only one 
source of mechanical power; and this source is the con¬ 
version of living parts into lifeless, amorphous compounds.” 
—“ No part of the body, having an organised or peculiar 
form, contains, for 8 equivalents of carbon, less than 1 of 
nitrogen.”—“ Out of the newly-formed blood, those parts of 
organs which have undergone metamorphoses are repro¬ 
duced. The carbon and nitrogen of the food thus become 
constituent parts of organs. Exactly as much sulphur, 
carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen is supplied to the organs by 
the blood—that is, ultimately, by the food—as they have 
lost by the transformations attending the exercise of their 
functions.”—“ The flesh and blood consumed as food, ulti¬ 
mately yield the greater part of their carbon for the support 
of the respiratory process, while the nitrogen appears as 
urea or uric acid, the sulphur as sulphuric acid. But 
previously to these final changes, the dead flesh and blood 
become living flesh and blood; and it is, strictly speaking, 
the combustible elements of the compounds formed in the 

G 3 










130 


USES AND IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN. 


metamorphoses of living tissues, which, with some other 
substances, to be more particularly mentioned hereafter, 
serve for the production of animal heat.” 

These quotations may serve to illustrate and justify the 
degree of importance ascribed to nitrogen, in the phenomena 
of life,—in the nutrition and expenditure of the animal 
economy. Every movement of the animal machine involves 
the expenditure of some portion of the existing and living 
tissue ; and every such expenditure involves the consumption 
of a given proportion of nitrogen, and demands its restora¬ 
tion in the form of aliment, in the composition of which 
nitrogen is an essential element. The nitrogen, to be thus 
useful, must be combined with other elementary substances, 
and combined in certain proportions; but such compounds 
do not exist without nitrogen; and this element is essential 
to organic structure, to animal function and movement, and 
to nutrition. 

Moreover, to return to the words of Baron Liebisr, 
“ Medicinal or remedial agents may be divided into 
two classes, the nitrogenised and the non-nitrogenised. 
The nitrogenised vegetable principles, whose composition 
differs from that of the proper nitrogenised elements of 
nutrition, also produced by a vegetable organism, are dis¬ 
tinguished, beyond all others, for their powerful action 
on the animal economy. The effects of these substances 
are singularly varied ; from the mildest form of the action of 
aloes, to the most terrible poison, strychnia, we observe an 
endless variety of different actions. With the exception of 


USES AND IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN. 


131 


three, all these substances produce diseased conditions in 
the healthy organism, and are poisonous in certain doses. 
Most of them are, chemically speaking, basic or alkaline. 
No remedy, devoid of nitrogen, possesses a poisonous action 
in a similar dose. This consideration, or comparative view, 
has led to a more accurate investigation of the composition 
of picrotoxine, the poisonous principle of cocculus indicus; 
and Mr. Francis has discovered the existence of nitrogen in 
it, hitherto overlooked, and has likewise determined its 
amount.” 

In these instances likewise, the nitrogen is in com¬ 
bination ; and it is in virtue of the proportions of such 
combination, that the resulting compounds are thus powerful 
in their effects on the animal economy; but the nitrogen 
is essential to the result, and it is not a mere diluent. 

Once again,—“ Disease occurs when the sum of vital 
force, which tends to neutralise all causes of disturbance 
(in other words, when the resistance offered by the vital 
force), is weaker than the acting cause of disturbance.”— 
“In medicine, every abnormal condition of supply or of 
waste, in all parts or in a single part of the body, is called 
disease.”— Baron Liebig. 

Such illustrations, cited from such authority, manifest 
the great importance of nitrogen in the economy of life, and 
in the production and the cure of disease. 

“ The Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal,” No. 193, 
October, 1852, in an elaborate and able analytical review of 
my “ Letter to Dr. Lyon Playfair,” contains the following 





132 


USES AND IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN. 


passage, and also the well-selected quotation from Dr. Sutro’s 
excellent “Lectures on the German Mineral Waters.” 

“ The thermal spring of Wildbad in the Black Forest 
contains, with a minute amount of saline matters, a large 
amount of nitrogen, 80 per cent.; and to the presence of 
this gas, the German physicians and Dr. Sutro ascribe the 
curative effects which the use of the Wildbad water exerts 
upon chronic rheumatism, rheumatic gout, and stiffness and 
nodosity of the joints. So also the waters of Pfeffers in 
the Canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and that of Gastein 
in the Mountains of Salzburg, contain, the former a small 
proportion of nitrogen, the latter a good deal more (2*02 in 
100 parts of water). It seems therefore quite natural to 
ascribe to the presence of this gas very notable effects upon 
the human organism; though in what exact manner these 
effects are produced, it is not so easy to understand and 
explain. 

“ The opinion of Dr. Sutro is given in the following 
passage:—‘ Without oxygen we should suffocate, without 
nitrogen we should starve. I should not go so far as to 
attribute a nourishing property to the nitrogen introduced 
into the absorbent vessels with the highly-diluted water. 
But when it is admitted, on all hands, that our tissues 
constantly discharge wasted particles in proportion to the 
regular additions provided by the arterial supplies ; and 
when we know a great part of this waste to issue from our 
cutaneous pores in a gaseous form, would it not be reason¬ 
able to attribute some restoratory function to the contact 


USES AND IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN. 


133 


and combination of the gas with organic particles ? We 
know that, in old age, earthy or inorganic formations 
prevail in the reproductive sphere. Limbs become more 
rigid, the joints less pliable, secretions retarded, excretions 
diminished, vital elasticity and resisting power impaired. 
Substances ordinarily carried rapidly along the vascular 
canals in a dissolved state, are now precipitated out of the 
slowly moving mass, and deposited in spaces where they 
further impede voluntary movement.’ 

“ If we see the use of a mineral water, causing distinct 
retrogression of these anti-vital phenomena ; if we perceive 
gouty concretions to proceed towards absorption; if we 
observe contracted limbs gradually to relax again, and to 
try feeble efforts of long-forgotten exercise; if we find 
cutaneous harshness and rigidity to diminish, and to give 
way to a former softness; if we behold a resuscitated 
desire for muscular exertion and for mental work in a 
prostrate individual, and we know the spa, the originator 
of these changes, to possess a great quantity of nitrogen, 
is it not legitimate to attribute to this gas part of the 
efficacy ? ” 

It is evident, then, that the result of Dr. Lyon Playfair’s 
analysis justifies a much enlarged expectation as to the medi¬ 
cinal value of the Buxton tepid waters, based upon what is 
known as to their chemical constitution. The great and 
unlooked-for discovery, that these waters may be fairly 
assumed to contain 206 cubic inches of nitrogen per gallon, 
at the moment of their issue, leads to unavoidable inferences 



134 GASEOUS CONSTITUENTS OF BUXTON WATERS. 

as to their medicinal value and importance. And as the 
chemistry of healthy structure and function, and of diseased 
conditions, attains a more advanced and influential and 
confirmed position, it is probable that so great an elementary 
principle as nitrogen, poured forth in such vast quantity, 
and with such ceaseless rapidity, and in a form so readily 
available for internal or external use as the Buxton tepid 
waters, may acquire a greater and greater value; adding to 
the prestige and the fame due to their ascertained effect on 
disease, the confirmation and precision of sound theoretical 
data ; and enabling their use to be extended to any and all 
the various forms of disordered action, in which the direct 
supply and influence of nitrogen to the fluids, or the tissues, 
or affected organs of the body, might be ascertained to be a 
direct mode of antagonising disease. It seems to be pro¬ 
bable, that the great effect of these waters upon some diseases, 
which has been so long known, and so largely appreciated, 
may be thus accounted for ; and it may probably be hoped, 
that, in its turn, the effect of introducing so much free 
nitrogen into the system may help to explain the nature of 
the diseases on which these waters act so energetically. So 
long as 6*18 cubic inches of nitrogen per imperial gallon, 
were supposed to be the whole amount of this important 
element contained in the waters, it appeared to be difficult 
or impossible to ascribe to it the great medicinal effect 
produced by the use of the Buxton baths, or by drinking 
these waters. The recent analysis has placed this question in 
a very different position. 


SALINE CONSTITUENTS OF BUXTON WATERS. 


135 


As to the solid constituents of the waters, it is only 
indirectly that the result of the recent analysis can be said 
to be of much importance. It is indeed needful, and 
only the just due of a mineral water, to which the long- 
continued and large resort of sufferers from rheumatism, 
gout, &c., attach much importance, that the more advanced 
state of chemistry should be brought to bear upon it 
from time to time, in order to determine whether, or to 
what extent, additional discoveries as to the substances 
which enter into 4ts composition, may bear out, explain, 
or extend its usefulness and applicability in different 
diseases. The result is that silica, oxide of iron, alumina, 
fluorine, and phosphoric acid have been for the first time 
ascertained to be among the substances dissolved in the 
waters. The proportion of these constituents is indeed 
small. But since the presence of these ingredients in the 
waters had not been detected, even by the analysis which was 
made with so much care and skill by Sir Charles Scudamore 
and Mr. Garden, at a time comparatively so recent, and 
with all the means and appliances which chemistry pos¬ 
sessed, it seems to be an unavoidable inference, that as this 
rapidly advancing science attains greater and greater 
perfection in its processes and teachings, it may help us 
to explain more and more satisfactorily the means, by virtue 
of which these waters act so usefully in the relief of disease. 
Such explanation may prove to be derivable exclusively, 
from the effect that may be referred to the direct intro¬ 
duction of so much free nitrogen into the animal economy, 






136 RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 


by the use of these waters, whether externally or internally ; 
or it may be assigned, in part, to the introduction, in a 
peculiarly available state of combination and dilution, of the 
solid ingredients already ascertained to be contained in the 
waters; or it may come to be partially referred to a con¬ 
stituent or constituents which have not hitherto been 
detected in it. Looking at the great advance which has 
been made in the science of chemistry, in the minute 
accuracy of its manipulations and results, in the closeness 
of its reasonings, the breadth of its deductions, the value 
and bearing of its inferences, and its extensive and much 
extended influences on all collateral branches of science, 
both in medicine and the arts, it is impossible to doubt that 
more certainty may be obtained as to the modus ojperandi 
of these waters in disease, than we now possess. And yet, the 
facts already ascertained are so important and conclusive, in 
regard to the solid and gaseous constituents of the waters, as 
to warrant a full a priori confidence in its medicinal 
character. By Dr. Pearson’s analysis, carbonic and sul¬ 
phuric acids, chlorine, sodium, lime, and free nitrogen, were 
ascertained to be contained in them; this analysis was con¬ 
firmed, and the presence of magnesium detected by Sir Charles 
Scudamore and Mr. Garden; and by Dr. Lyon Playfair’s 
analysis, the presence of silica, iron, alumina, potassium, 
fluorine, and phosphorus was ascertained. So large an 
amount of additional information commands additional con¬ 
fidence, and serves to confirm and establish the character 
and value of the waters, independently of theories, and in 


RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 137 


aid of the immemorial experience of their medicinal 

Instead of 2 cubic inches of carbonic acid in the imperial 
gallon of the waters, which was the result in the immediately 
preceding analysis, the recent analysis shows that there are 
3*47 cubic inches of this gas in the gallon, after having 
deducted for every form in which the remaining 12T9 cubic 
inches obtained from it may be supposed to be held in 
combination. But free carbonic acid, even when contained 
in very large proportion in mineral waters, is not found to 
have much medicinal effect. Carbonic acid is chiefly 
valuable in mineral waters as a solvent for more powerful 
ingredients, and as a means by which the more rapid absorp¬ 
tion of the waters, either through the skin or through the 
stomach, is secured. The effect of carbonic acid in these less 
direct ways, is by no means unimportant; and, so far, the 
larger proportion of this gas, now ascertained to be con¬ 
tained in the waters, is worthy of notice; but, after all, the 
amount of carbonic acid contained in the waters is small, 
when compared with that which is contained in many 
mineral waters. 

That no less than 206 cubic inches of free nitrogen may 
be fairly assumed to be present in the imperial gallon, is a 
much more extraordinary and interesting fact; and no less 
extraordinary and interesting when viewed in connection 
with the great flow of the waters, than when compared with 
the results of the previous analysis. Supposing, as may be 
probable, that the whole flow of the waters is 300 gallons per 








138 RESULTS AND INFERENCES PROM ANALYSES. 


minute, the amount of free nitrogen discharged along with 
them is 61,800 cubic inches, or nearly 36 cubic feet per minute; 
and if, at a moderate estimate, 150 gallons of the waters pass 
every minute through the baths and the wells, then 30,900 
cubic inches per minute of this important elementary 
principle, with whatever medicinal action nitrogen may 
subserve, are offered in an available form for either external 
or internal use. The knowledge of this great fact, resulting 
from Dr. Playfair’s analysis, is partly due to the improved 
methods now possessed for ascertaining the character and 
proportions of gases; and it should be ascribed partly to 
the great care which was taken, to secure the whole of the 
gaseous contents in the waters submitted to analysis. And 
if the free application of uncombined nitrogen to the surface 
of the body, or to the lining membrane of the stomach, is 
capable of influencing the human system in any degree, the 
medicinal effect of these w r aters cannot but be held to be so 
far fully explained. The proportion is so much greater than 
has hitherto been claimed as being contained in any other 
mineral waters whatever, that the belief in their medicinal 
character cannot but be so far strengthened in an important 
degree. These waters have been more frequently compared 
and likened to the important mineral waters of Wildbad, in 
Wurtemburg, than any other of the great continental ther¬ 
mal waters, inasmuch as they seem to be used with success 
in many of the same disordered states of system, and inas¬ 
much as the saline constituents of the two waters are in 
many respects similar, and as the AVildbad waters contain 







RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 139 


a considerable proportion of nitrogen. But whereas 100 
parts of the gas obtained from the Buxton waters contain 
little more than one part of carbonic acid, and only a trace 
of oxygen, nearly 99 parts consisting of free nitrogen, 
100 parts of the gas attained from the Wildbad waters con¬ 
tain 121 parts of carbonic acid, and 8^- parts of oxygen, 
79i parts only being nitrogen; and of this smaller propor¬ 
tion of nitrogen, 36 parts, or nearly one-half, must be 
deducted as corresponding with the 8i parts of oxygen, and 
representing so much atmospheric air. The absence of 
oxygen in the gas obtained from the Buxton waters enhances 
the estimate of the nitrogen obtained from it, inasmuch as 
the nitrogen is thus left free, and available for any purpose, 
medicinal or otherwise, that so much free nitrogen may be 
supposed to serve. And, according to the respective analyses, 
the Buxton waters are assumed to contain more than half the 
proportion of free nitrogen that the well-known Seltzer 
waters contain of carbonic acid—a statement which conveys 
fully and clearly, a notion of the very large proportion of 
nitrogen which is contained in the waters of the Buxton 
tepid springs. It may seem to be invidious to compare these 
waters with other warm mineral waters; but it is surely just 
to set forth its claims, not only to a distinguished, but, as it 
would thus far appear, to a first position, in regard to the 
amount of its impregnation with free nitrogen gas, and in 
regard to whatever medicinal value may be believed to attach 
to it on this account. 

It seems to be sufficient, and to be as much as consists 




140 RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 


with the present state of information, to have learned that 
these waters contain these saline and gaseous constituents,— 
to ascertain what effects the use of the waters, as baths and 
internally, produces on the human system, in health, and in 
different disordered or diseased conditions,—and to assume 
that the effects must be referable to what has been ascer¬ 
tained as to the constituents of the waters. It would have 
been as impossible to infer d priori, that a certain propor¬ 
tional combination of three or four elementary substances 
would produce an alimentary substance, a certain other 
combined proportion of the same elementary substances 
would produce a substance having valuable medicinal pro¬ 
perties, a third proportional combination of the same sub¬ 
stances produce a virulently poisonous compound, and a 
fourth compound of the same ingredients produce a sub¬ 
stance that would be neither alimentary, nor medicinal, nor 
poisonous, but a substance insoluble in the gastric secretions, 
and altogether inert when received into the human stomach. 
And yet the chemistry of organic substances furnishes 
many instances of this remarkable character, which the 
present amount of our information leaves unexplained. 
The same component elements, in different proportions, form 
the mbst powerful of the vegetable tonics (quinine), the 
most active of the vegetable narcotics (morphia), the most 
powerful of the vegetable poisons (picrotoxine), and the most 
valuable of alimentary restoratives (animal and vegetable 
fibrine). The effects of these compounds are no less certain, 
and the grounds for their use or avoidance, and the doses 


RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 141 


and circumstances of their use, are no less trustworthy and 
defined, because the reason of such difference in property 
cannot be ascertained. The admission, that the degree of 
effect or the kind of effect on the system of the Buxton 
tepid waters, could not be predicated from the nature of their 
chemical constituents, is no invidious or singular admission 
of limited knowledge; nor can it affect the trust which 
science attaches to experience, when the peculiar character 
of the tepid mineral waters is thus established. An 
important amount of medicinal value may be claimed for 
them, on the exclusive ground of their chemical con¬ 
stitution. 

It has been advanced, as a mode of explaining the 
medicinal action of the Buxton tepid waters upon the 
animal economy, that the absorption of the nitrogen with 
which they are so largely charged, leads to the formation of 
so much ammonia, by involving the decomposition of a due 
proportion of water to furnish the required amount of 
hydrogen; and that the ammonia thus formed, and brought 
to bear immediately upon the blood and tissues, is the 
essentially curative principle of these mineral waters. There 
is no foundation for this hypothesis ; the supposed con¬ 
version of the nitrogen into ammonia is entirely conjectural, 
and extremely unlikely; and even if it were otherwise, the 
action of ammonia would be inadequate to explain that 

of the Buxton waters. These waters are more stimulating 

# / 

and more alterative in their effects, than could be accounted 
for in this way. This ammoniacal hypothesis is attempted 





142 RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 

to be supported by a statement, that the diseases for which 
the action of the Buxton waters is known to be remedial, are 
marked by a deficiency of ammonia in the secretions. 
Animal chemistry, however, demonstrates the incorrectness 
of this assertion. Even the urine of healthy persons does 
not contain so much ammonia as serves to neutralise the 
acids which it contains, and urine ought always to show a 
slight excess of acidity; and in almost all the diseases of 
excitement, or of inflammatory character, the urine is like¬ 
wise, in at least an equal degree, characterised by pre¬ 
dominant acidity. But the ammonia which characterises 
urine is, for the most part, formed by the putrescence of 
the urea, and other highly animalised matters contained in 
it, long after it has been discharged from the system. If 
the remarkable similarity in composition of carbonate of 
ammonia and urea be considered ; and the fact, that a con¬ 
siderable proportion of the excess of uric acid in gouty and 
rheumatic conditions, would seem to be obtained at the 
expense of the urea, and to be the consequence of an im¬ 
perfect decarbonisation of the blood during the process of 
respiration, as ably urged by Dr. Gairdner in his excellent 
treatise on Gout; the utter fallacy of this ammoniacal view, 
as to the action of the Buxton waters, either as regards the 
effects of ammonia, or the condition of disease, is fully 
demonstrated. Medical men need not be told that ammonia 
is equally inadequate for the relief of gout or the cure of 
rheumatism, in whatever form it may be made use of: 
complaints in which the efficacy of the Buxton waters is so 


RESULTS AND INFERENCES FROM ANALYSES. 


143 


signally evidenced; and it is important that public attention 
should not he diverted from the fact of this efficacy, and 
from what is ascertained as to the chemical character and 
peculiarities of these waters, by speculations which are 
untenable. 



CHAPTER Y. 


—- 

ASCERTAINED ELEVATIONS OE DIEFERENT LOCALITIES IN 
THE DISTRICT. THE NEW RANGES OF BATHS. AMOUNT 
OE ELOW OE THE TEPID SPRINGS. THE WELLS, BATHS, 
AND DOUCHES. 

The whole of the town of Buxton, as has been said, lies 
in a valley, and is surrounded by hills of greater elevation 
than its own level. This applies more particularly to 
Lower Buxton, which is immediately protected on the 
south by St. Anne’s cliff—now more commonly called the 
Terrace-walks, and on the north by the rising grounds on 
which the new church and the stables are placed. This part 
of the town is well sheltered in all directions. It is more 
immediately protected by plantations on the west; and on 
the east by the higher grounds of Eairfield, and the rocks 
which bound the valley through which the road to Bakewell 
passes, close to the town. Upper Buxton is much less 
sheltered; the higher grounds are situated at greater 
distances, and its position is by so much one of greater 
exposure. There is a difference of elevation between the 
carriage road in front of the Crescent and the centre of the 
market-place, amounting to seventy-six feet, nine inches; 




ELEVATIONS.-ANEROID BAROMETER. 


145 


and the elevation of Upper Bnxton may therefore be said in 
round numbers to be 1100 feet, the elevation of the new 
church being 1029^ feet. In regard to the degree of 
shelter afforded to Upper Buxton, there is, however, within 
less than a mile, on the south, a range of ground which is 
three hundred and fifty feet higher; and at nearly the same 
distance, on the east and on the north, are grounds of as 
great or greater elevation. On the west, the two miles in 
length of the Buxton valley intervene between Upper 
Buxton and the higher grounds in that direction. 

These several elevations, and the various elevations of the 
different more important positions throughout this district, 
have been obtained either from the excellent surveys 
published under the authority of her Majesty’s Board of 
Ordnance, or from private surveys which have been kindly 
made in reference to this work, and the perfect accuracy of 
which may be implicitly relied upon. But an approach to 
relative accuracy may be obtained in a most interesting and 
ready manner, in regard to any locality, whether upland or 
valley, by the use of the very ingenious instrument—the 
Aneroid barometer. Barometers are used to indicate the 
pressure of the air; and therefore they may be had recourse 
to not only as weather-glasses, but inasmuch as they fall 
when higher ground is ascended, and rise when lower ground 
is descended,—the weight of the superincumbent atmosphere, 
by so much diminishing in the one case, and increasing in 
the other,—they act usefully in obtaining the relative eleva- . 
tions of different places above the level of the sea. The 


H 














116 


ELEVATIONS.-ANEROID BAROMETER. 


Aneroid barometer is sufficiently portable to be conveniently 
made use of for this purpose. In using this instrument, it 
is only necessary to bave obtained the elevation of any given 
object in a district; as, for instance, that of the New Church 
at Buxton. This is to be taken as the standard of the com¬ 
parative observations, and the index of the Aneroid 
barometer is to be accurately read and noted on any given 
day, when the relative elevation of any other part of the 
district is wished to be ascertained. Every inch on the 
index of the instrument is divided into forty spaces, and 
every one of these spaces may be considered, with a sufficient 
approach to accuracy to satisfy most observers, to signify 
twenty-one feet. If any of the neighbouring eminences be 
then ascended, the index of the barometer will be found to 
fall more and more, as the higher and higher ground is 
attained; and by multiplying the number of spaces thus 
indicated by twenty-one, a sufficiently near approximation 
may be made to the relative elevation of any part of the 
district. Thus, for instance, it may be learned that there is 
a range of the index of nine and a half points between the 
level of the New Church and that part of the road to Man¬ 
chester which is about three-quarters of a mile distant from 
the church, a little beyond the Royal Oak inn. Multiplied 
by twenty-one, a higher elevation is shown of 200 feet; or, 
if added to 1029^ feet, the elevation of the church above the 
level of the sea, the elevation of this part of the road is 
shown to be about 1230 feet. Again, between the level of the 
church and that of the highest part of the same road, called 









THE CRESCENT. 


147 


the top of the Long Hill, the index shows a fall of eighteen 
points, which when multiplied by twenty-one, gives a higher 
elevation of 378 feet, or a total elevation above the sea level 
of 1408 feet. In a district which presents so many different 
elevations of country and places, this instrument supplies 
an interesting and valuable resource to the tourist and the 
enquirer. It should be remembered, however, that such an 
estimate, although sufficiently near for most purposes, is 
only an approximation to the truth: the attainment of 
absolute accuracy by means of barometrical observations, 
requires some deductions for variations of temperature, and 
other influencing circumstances, and necessitates a some¬ 
what intricate process of mathematical calculation. 

The mineral waters, baths, wells, and their appurtenances, 
are situated in Lower Buxton, and contiguous to the 
Crescent. These are contained in two wings, at the east and 
west ends of the Crescent. 

“ The diameter of the inner circle on which the Crescent 
is built is about two hundred and forty feet, that of the 
outer one three hundred, and the breadth of each wing is 
about fifty-seven feet, making the length of the whole 
building nearly three hundred and sixty feet. The upper 
stories in the front are supported by an arcade, within 
which is a paved walk, about seven feet wide, where the 
company may take air and exercise without being incom¬ 
moded by bad weather. The area in front is a smooth gravel 
plot, some feet below the level of the arcade, well supplied 

with garden chairs for the accommodation of the walkers. 

h 2 








148 


THE NEW GANGES OF BATHS. 


“ The building has three stories. The arcade is of 
the rusticated character. Above the arches, an elegant 
balustrade extends along the whole front and the ends of 
the fabric. Over the piers of the arcade arise fluted Doric 
pilasters, that support the architrave and cornice. The 
trygliphs of the former and the rich underpart of the latter 
have a beautiful appearance. The termination above the 
cornice is formed by another balustrade, that extends along 
the whole building. The front contains forty-two pilasters, 
and two tiers of windows above the arches, thirty-nine 
windows in each tier; to these add the lower windows, those 
in the ends, and in the back of the building, and there arises 
a total of three hundred and seventy-eight windows.”— 
Jewett's History of Buxton , 1811. 

The Square is connected with the Crescent by a colonnade; 
the colonnade extends along three sides of the Square; and 
the colonnade which skirts the internal area of the Crescent 
and the external area of the Square, forms a covered walk 
of a hundred and seventy-five yards in length. 

The much extended ranges of baths are situated at the 
two extremities of the Crescent; that at the eastern end 
being devoted to the hot-baths, &c.; that at the western end 
to the natural baths, the wells for drinking the waters, &c. 

Both these great ranges of buildings are covered, and 
their interiors lighted, by roofs of glass, arranged in the 
ridge and furrow form. Any undue degree of glare of light 
in the bath-apartments, where this might be objectionable, 
is controlled by internal blinds, which may be drawn at 



BANGE OF NATURAL BATHS. 


149 


pleasure; and any additional ventilation, beyond that which 
is provided for in the ordinary way, is readily obtained by 
isolated and overlapping portions of the glass roofing, which 
are placed at intervals, in all needful positions, and which 
may be readily raised and lowered at pleasure. When the 
large amount of watery vapour necessarily discharged from 
the warm waters, as they are poured into the reservoirs, and 
thence into the baths, in such vast quantities, is considered, 
—and the considerable amount of heat which is given out 
from the waters, and the large quantity of nitrogen and car¬ 
bonic acid gases constantly disengaged from them, are taken 
into account,—the great importance of a free ventilation at 
all times, and a command over the means of adding to its 
degree at pleasure, will be appreciated, and felt to be 
peculiarly needful. A dry air, of genial temperature, has 
been at length attained in the passages, dressing-rooms, and 
bath-rooms of both ranges of baths, by means of warming 
apparatus, of careful construction and efficient character. 
There is no particular in which the improvement in the new 
baths is more remarkable than in this. The bath apart¬ 
ments and passages had been thought to be unavoidably 
damp, owing to the constant current of the warm water 
through the baths. The complete manner in which this has 
been remedied, deserves to be pointedly mentioned. 

The western or natural bath department, occupies a space 
of ground between the Crescent and the Hall, and has a 
comparatively small extent of frontage. This limited 
space is occupied by a handsome elevation of dressed 




150 


RANGE OF HOT BATHS. * 


stone, surmounted by a balustrade of enriched character, 
and presenting five compartments. Of these, the three in 
the centre are occupied by domed, semi-circular, recessed, 
and fluted spaces, of windowed size and shape; the base of 
every recessed space being formed of a vase, from the 
centre of which a jet of water may be made to play. ( See 
the Illustration.) This architectural front has been adapted 
in its style to the Crescent with which it is connected, and 
to the uses of the building it appertains to ; and it serves 
to illustrate very well, the suitableness of the stone of the 
adjoining gritstone formation for ornamental building,—its 
fine and beautiful grain, and the smooth surface and bold 
and sharp edges with wdiich it may be finished and carved, 
either in relief or otherwise. 

The elevation of the eastern, or hot-bath department, is 
not interfered with by any other building, and forms a 
decorated and substantial example of what must be 
called the Crystal-palace style of architecture,—a style 
which is one of the great creations of our times, and which 
is calculated to produce, directly or indirectly, a most 
important change in the character and details of modem 
architecture. (See the Illustration.) Presenting frontages 
of glass and iron, on the south and the east, which contain 
sixty enarchments; every enarclied compartment having a 
breadth of four feet six inches ; the building is nearly 30 
yards in width, and more than 60 yards in depth. It is 
placed substantially on a base of wrought and smoothed stone. 

Both these departments of baths are approached from the 













ST. anne's and chalybeate wells. 


151 


colonnades of the Crescent and the Square by contiguous 
arcades ; and there is a glass-roofed passage of communica¬ 
tion from the Hall. 

At the south-west corner of the Crescent, entered from 
the Crescent-colonnade, is the newly erected St. Anne’s 
Well for the use of the drinkers of the water. This new 
well is on the site of the oldest St. Anne’s "Well that is on 
record, and close to the spot at which the spring emerges 
by which the well is supplied. The apartment containing 
this well is entered from the colonnade, without exposure to 
the weather. The well-room is lofty, and lighted from above; 
the well in the centre being surrounded by a ledge of marble, 
on which to place the glasses, — supported by a partition, 
from within which the water is dispensed to the drinkers. 

On the north side of the entrance to the new St. Anne’s 
"Well, and close to it, is the entrance to the gentlemen’s 
department of the natural baths; next to this is the entrance 
to the ladies’ department of the natural baths ; and next to 
this, and opening from the Crescent-colonnade in the same 
way, is the new well for the supply of the chalybeate water 
to the drinkers. 

The size of the room containing the new chalybeate well, is 
twenty-two feet by sixteen feet, and lighted from above. 
The chalybeate water is poured from three orifices into an 
ornamental basin, in the centre of this apartment. 

Every one of the baths in the natural-bath and the hot- 
bath departments, is separately supplied with the mineral 
waters, from closed reservoirs, in which the tepid waters are 





152 


AMOUNT OF FLOW OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


collected, as they are poured out from the fissures in the lime¬ 
stone rock. The separate supply thus afforded to every one 
of the baths, is so large, that the temperature of from 80° 
to 82° is maintained, and that the gaseous and chemical 
properties of the waters are preserved. In regard to the 
natural-baths, there is not only this separate supply of the 
mineral waters, but the waters are constantly running 
into and out of them; the supply for every bath being 
received directly from the reservoir which feeds it, and 
carried away at once through the waste pipes into the river. 
As in the instance of the other natural-baths, the baths 
which are devoted to the use of the patients of the Buxton 
Bath Charity, have likewise this independent, intact, and 
abundant supply of the tepid waters. 

The mineral waters are thus constantly pouring into and 
out of every one of the natural baths, and in such quantity 
that the temperature is always maintained at from 80° 
to 82°; but the entire cleanliness of the several baths 
is still more fully secured, by having them completely 
emptied every night, and the sides and flooring duly scrubbed 
and scoured with brooms and brushes. 

The flow of the tepid waters is amply sufficient for every 
purpose; and the amount of the waters which is discharged 
altogether, is even considerably greater than the very large 
quantity which is now made use of. Were the whole of 

the flow of these mineral waters to be determinable,_ 

thus constantly discharged,—in unvarying quantity,—of the 
unvarying temperature, at the moment of issue, of a 







AMOUNT OF FLOW OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


153 


fraction of a degree more than 82° Fahrenheit,—and of un¬ 
changing chemical character,—the whole quantity poured 
forth would probably be found to be not less than 250 
or 300 gallons per minute. 

Dr. Short, writing in the year 1734, says, “ all these four 
springs together,” viz., those of the inner bath, the outer 
bath, St. Anne’s Well, and and Bingham’s Well, “throw 
forth in a year 97,081,860 gallons of water, besides the 
w r aste water that gets out of the bath, and the strong spring 
rising up in the middle of the bath level beyond St. Anne’s 
Well, and the warm water which rises up in the hot and 
cold spring, and lastly the two small warm springs which 
rise up in the low ground, between the hot and cold spring, 
and the large spring in the sough, with several other 
oozings of warm water in sundry other places, the whole 
added together will be nearly double this computation.” 
But even this computation, which Dr. Short states to have 
been the earliest which had ever been made, gives 185 wine- 
gallons, viz., 139 imperial gallons, per minute, as the flow of 
the four springs; which he was induced to estimate as only 
half that of the amount of tepid water actually dis¬ 
charged, if the whole had been collected, and none permitted 
to run to waste. The flow of Bingham’s Well and of St. 
Anne’s Well, according to Dr. Short’s estimate, being 
deducted from the above, amounting to 26| gallons per 
minute, would leave a flow of 112^ gallons per minute for 
the supply of the natural baths in the year 1734, i.e., forty- 
six years before the foundations of the Crescent were laid. 

h 3 


154 AMOUNT OF FLOW OF THE TEPID WATERS. 

4 

Fifty years after this estimate had been made by Dr. Short, 
an estimate of the flow supplying the natural baths, ex¬ 
clusive of that of the other wells and springs, was made by 
Dr. Pearson. This estimate was made in the year when the 
Crescent was completed, viz., 1784; and the flow is stated 
as having been “nearly 140 ale gallons per minute,” which 
would be 116^ imperial gallons. These estimates confirm 
one another very remarkably, and justify our great confi¬ 
dence in the statements of these observers. 

Much of this flow of the tepid waters supplying the 
natural baths, would seem to have been lost between the 
years 1784 and 1851; as, according to a report which was 
made to Mr. Smithers, by Mr. Eddy and Mr. Darlington, 
the engineers, in November, 1851, the amount of flow 
which supplied the natural baths at that time, was only 84£ 
imperial gallons per minute. In the process of levelling 
and excavation for the formation of the new natural baths, 
a larger amount of flow has been regained than that which 
had thus gradually come to be wasted; and 129£ imperial 
gallons per minute of these tepid waters, are now poured forth 
for the supply of the natural baths exclusively, in addition 
to the flow by which the hot baths, and that by which the 
drinking wells are supplied. It will be observed, that this 
flow is greater to the extent of 17 gallons per minute, than 
the quantity of water supplying these baths in 1734; and 
greater by 13 gallons per minute, than the supply in 1784. 

The depth of water in all the gentlemen’s natural baths, 
is 4 feet 8 inches ; and the depth of w r ater in the ladies’ 














DEPTH OF NATURAL BATHS. 


155 


natural batlis, is 4 feet 2 inches. These baths are therefore 
used in the erect position, in order to admit of free exercise 
and movement during the period of immersion. This is 
essential in baths of water, at the natural temperature 
of the Buxton tepid springs: viz., 82°, Fahrenheit. 
Although the temperature of 82° constitutes a bath 
of tepid character, and may be said to be about 20° 
higher than the temperature of river water, in the summer 
season, in these high latitudes, it is nevertheless 16° below' 
the temperature of the internal organs of the human 
body, and 13° to 14° below that of the surface of the 
body. A bath of 82° would therefore be unwisely made 
use of, in the recumbent position. The degree of muscular 
action which is involved in the maintenance of the body 
in the erect position, lessens the risk of chill attending 
or resulting from the use of the baths, even wdien the 
limbs are not kept in more or less active movement during 
the time of bathing. Crippled and paralysed conditions 
sometimes preclude any such movement of the limbs, 
or any very important amount of muscular exercise, from 
being had recourse to during the use of the bath. But, in 
most cases, active exercise is not thus precluded or interfered 
with, during immersion in the water; and the erect position 
in which the baths are used, leaves the trunk of the body 
and the limbs under full command, and renders every desired 
degree of exercise usually obtainable. The baths are of 
sufficient size, as well as sufficient depth, for this important 
purpose; and they are, moreover, surrounded with hand- 





156 


EXERCISE WHILE BATHING. 


rails, and supplied with swinging chains, in order that the 
bather may obtain any desired amount of exercise during 
the use of the bath. 

It is by no means exclusively on account of the tempera¬ 
ture of the water, that as much muscular exercise as is 
otherwise expedient and practicable, should be taken during 
the use of these mineral baths. The absorption of the water 
through the skin into the system, is indispensable to the 
effect of bathing in any mineral water. This absorption 
is secured and promoted by bodily exercise, and friction of 
the surface of the body, during the use of the bath. Very 
little absorption of the water is believed to take place 
through the skin, if the bather remains quiescent while 
immersed in the bath; and the greater the amount of 
friction of the skin, and the more active and general the 
degree of the muscular exertion which is made, the greater 
the amount of absorption under the same circumstances. 
This is applicable to baths of any temperature; but it is 
more particularly important in using baths of mineral 
waters ; and more especially of those mineral waters, which 
may be chiefly dependent, for their medicinal action, upon 
the amount of the gaseous impregnation which they contain, 
—the absorption of such gas or gases being peculiarly under 
the influence of whatever promotes or otherwise the 
absorbent power of the skin. 

All the baths are supplied with douches, or continuous 
jets of water, made to issue with a considerable amount of 
force, through nozzles of different sizes, and which may be 


DOUCHES OE THE TEPID WATERS. 157 

directed against, and played upon, any part of the body, 
limbs, or joints, which may be more particularly affected. 
The douche is an exceedingly valuable remedy, in many 
chronic localised ailments. Sprains, and similar injuries of 
the textures near to the surface,—the seats of re-united 
fractures and reduced dislocations, which are often left for a 
long time after such injuries in a very imperfect and painful 
condition,—cases of spinal weakness, and localised chronic 
infirmities of rheumatic or gouty character,—and local 
forms of paralysis, sometimes traceable to exposure to cold 
and wet, sometimes to the effect of lead and other mineral 
poisons,—are found to derive much greater or more rapid 
effects from the use of the bath when combined with the 
douche, than when used without it. But there are many 
cases in which the bath cannot be justifiably made use of, 
to which the use of the douche is found to be applicable. 
■When the circulation or respiration is much disturbed by 
some temporary derangement or permanent lesion, either in 
the heart, lungs, great vessels, or nervous centres, the 
propriety of immersion in any water, of auy kind, or of any 
temperature, may be contra-indicated; and the use of the 
douche may often be tried with safety and good effect, for 
the relief of local ailments, or the lessening of general 
infirmities. It has to be stated, moreover, that so powerful 
are the effects of the mineral waters of Buxton, when used 
as baths, that it is found to be unwise to allow persons to 
use these baths every day. The use of the bath has to be 
interrupted, on the alternate, or on the third days, to 





158 


DOUCHES OF THE TEPID WATERS. 


diminish the risk of inducing undue stimulation in the first 
instance, or undue debility in the end. In many cases, the 
douche may be used without the bath, on these intervening 
days, which would otherwise be comparatively wasted. To 
meet such cases,—and they are necessarily very numerous, 
when both the classes of cases cited are reckoned,—douche- 
baths are provided, where any part of the body may be 
submitted to these water-jets without the use of the bath. 
It is impossible to attach too high a value to these douche- 
closets or douche-baths, in a medicinal point of view. The 
rapidity with which local lesions of chronic character are 
often relieved by means of the douches, the numbers of 
cases to which the douches alone are applicable, the use of 
the bath being contra-indicated, and the amount of time 
which may be saved by using the douches on the days when 
the baths are not used, justify the value thus assigned to 
these douche-baths. 

The medicinal value of the douche is due to the greater 
degree of absorption of the mineral waters, through the skin 
of the parts submitted to its action; the effect of the im¬ 
pulse and percussion of the jet of water being tantamount to 
active friction with pressure. The readiness with which the 
degree of this friction may be controlled, by regulating the 
force of the jet and the time of the application; the much 
greater amount of this kind of friction that may usually be 
borne, without inconvenience at the time, or discomfort after¬ 
wards, than of rubbing with anything of harder character than 
the water itself; the amount of pressure with which the jet 


ACTION OF THE DOUCHES. 


159 


acts on the part submitted to it, answering the full purpose 
of most efficient shampooing; the perfect adaptation and 
equalisation of the pressure and friction over the whole 
surface douched, notwithstanding any curves or inequalities 
of the body or limbs, while the medicinal properties of the 
water are absorbed and brought to bear immediately upon 
the part or parts which may be more particularly affected,— 
are the evident reasons why the douches of the mineral 
waters prove to be of such great value in the treatment of 
many localised and disabling ailments. And it is not too 
much to say, that some of the most wonderful and gratifying 
instances of relief obtained from the use of the Buxton 
waters, have been referable to their use in the form of 
douches. A noble duke had his foot trodden upon by a horse. 
The foot was not apparently injured after the primary irri¬ 
tation occasioned by it had subsided. There was no per¬ 
ceptible swelling of the foot, nor thickening of the bones or 
ligaments of the arch of the foot, which had been injured. 
But there was much crippling, and some occasional pain. 
To walk was difficult; and to take an amount of walking 
exercise adequate to the wants and duties of life, was impos¬ 
sible. Months passed away; the most skilful surgical 
opinions and appliances were found to be useless. In 
three weeks, under the use of the baths and douches of the 
Buxton water, the patient was enabled to walk three miles 
continuously, without lameness at the time, or inconvenience 
afterwards. Such cases might be multiplied to any extent. 
This case is cited, because, from the high position of the 





160 


THE NATURAL BATHS. 


sufferer, considerable attention was attracted to it at tbe 
time; and because it is one of many such cases,—of local 
injury without actual lesion, or irreparable damage, to the 
seat of such accident,—in which a cure by the use ot the 
baths and douches of these mineral waters may be looked 
for with much confidence. 

The gentlemen’s department of the natural baths is 
entered by a corridor, which is sixty feet in length, and of 
an ample width and height; and which gives access to two 
large public baths, to the private baths, to the douche- 
baths, and shower-baths, of the water at the natural 
temperature. 

The “ IGlentlemen’s Public Bath, No. 1,” or “ Two-Shilling 
Bath,” is contained in an apartment which is nearly fifty-one 
feet long, more than thirty-three feet wide, and upwards of 
twenty feet high, from the top of the water in the bath to 
the ceiling of the room. The bath itself is twenty-six feet 
in length, and eighteen feet in width. This large apartment 
contains suitable dressing closets, and all other desirable 
comforts and conveniences; and is lighted by means of a 
double tier of windows. This bath is on the site of the 
oldest of the baths ; but the new bath is two feet longer, and 
two feet and a half wider, than the former one ; the apart¬ 
ment is nearly double the height; it is well-lighted (instead 
of being somewhat dingily dark), and dry, and well warmed 
and ventilated (instead of being more or less close and 
damp at all times). 

The “Gentlemen’s Public Bath, No. 2,” or “One-Shilliug 






THE NATURAL BATHS. 


161 


Bath,” likewise furnished witli dressing closets and all other 
comforts and conveniences, is twenty-seven feet long, 
and fifteen feet wide. The apartment is not so lofty, nor so 
well lighted, as the No. 1 hath; but it is larger, and better 
lighted, than this bath used to be; and the area is well 
warmed and ventilated. 

The gentlemen’s private baths are eleven feet long, and 
five feet wide, with private dressing rooms, and every com¬ 
fort and accommodation. 

There are private douche-baths attached to the private 
baths, in which the douche may be used without immersion 
of the body; there being also douches in the immersion baths, 
in which both immersion and douching may be used. The 
douche-baths are likewise furnished with the shower-bath 
apparatus; so that the shower-bath may or may not be taken 
in connection with the douches, or the shower-bath be used 
without the douches, as may be desired. 

The ladies’ department of the natural baths is likewise 
entered by a separate corridor, sixty feet in length. 

The Ladies’ Public Bath is contained in an apartment 
which is thirty-nine feet long, and thirty-nine and a half feet 
wide. The bath itself is twenty-three feet long, and 
eighteen feet wide. There are dressing closets, and all 
desirable and comfortable appurtenances. 

The Ladies’ Private Baths are eleven feet long, and five 
feet wide, and supplied with douche apparatus. There are 
also private douche-rooms, where are douche-baths and 
shower-baths; either or both being used, as may be wished. 







162 


THE HOT BATHS. 


The Ladies’ Private Baths are furnished with separate 
dressing rooms, and every accessory to comfort. 

The baths of the waters at the natural temperature, 
provided for the use of the patients of the Buxton Bath 
Charity, are equal in every essential particular to those 
already mentioned. 

The Men’s Charity Bath is contained in an apartment 
which is twenty-six feet six inches long, and twenty feet 
wide ; the bath itself being twenty feet long and fifteen feet 
wide. There are dressing boxes and every needful comfort, 
and a douche closet for the separate application of the 
douches without immersion. 

The Women’s Charity Bath apartment is thirty feet long 
and twenty feet wide; the bath being twenty feet long 
and fifteen feet wide. There are dressing boxes, douche- 
closet, &c. 

Both these baths are lighted, warmed, ventilated, and 
supplied in every particular, as satisfactorily as the other 
Laths. 

It is mentioned by the late Dr. Joseph Denman, in a 
work entitled “ Observations on the Buxton Water,” 
published in 1801, in strong terms, as a great disadvantage 
to the usefulness of the Buxton waters, that no provision 
had been made for supplying baths of the mineral water at 
any higher degree of temperature than the natural heat. 
It was not until the year 1818, or seventeen years after the 
publication of this decided opinion in favour of warmer baths 
of the mineral waters, that this deficiency was in any degree 











HOT BATHS OF BUXTON WATERS. 


103 


supplied. But Dr. Denman could not have foreseen, nor 
could any adequate anticipation have been formed, as to the 
amount of benefit which would accrue from the use of 
artificially heated baths of the Buxton tepid waters, and the 
consequently greater and greater demand for these baths on 
the part of the public. 

Much apprehension has been always entertained, lest the 
raising of the temperature of these waters, in ever so small a 
degree, might have the effect of impairing their medicinal 
qualities. Such an apprehension might seem to be the more 
justifiable, inasmuch as the opinion has come to be more 
and more generally held, that the medicinal effect of the 
waters depends, to an important extent, upon the gases 
which they hold in solution, and which might be likely to be 
more and more driven off, as the temperature of the waters 
is more and more raised. It has to be remembered, however, 
that the whole of the waters poured forth from these springs, 
and supplied to the baths, have naturally the elevated tem¬ 
perature of 80° or upwards ; and that a very large proportion 
of the w r ater in a bath is unmeddled with, until the moment 
of introducing the relatively small quantity of the same water 
heated, which is necessary to raise the water of the bath to 
such higher temperature as may be required. Supposing the 
temperature of common spring or river water to be about 50°, 
a bath of 95° would require the addition of so much hot 
water as would elevate the temperature of the water 45°; 
whereas, in the instance of the tepid waters of Buxton, the 
difference of temperature would be only 15°, and the addition 






164 


HOT BATHS OF BUXTON WATERS. 


of one third only of the proportion of heated water to the 
bath would be necessary. So small a proportion of heated 
water has to be added to the natural water, to raise its tempe¬ 
rature to that of any ordinary hot bath, that it has often been 
impossible, when these baths have been in very great demand 
from morning till night, to prepare a bath in the hot-bath 
department, at a lower temperature than 88°, or even some¬ 
times than 90°; the heat of the marble sides and floorings 
of the baths, and of the pipes conveying the hot water, 
&c., being sufficient to raise by so much the temperature 
of the natural water, without the addition of any heated 
water at all. It may be justifiably advanced, that the 
temperature of these mineral waters affords the greatest 
facility for their use in the form of baths, at any required 
degree of temperature, with the least possible risk 
of impairing their effects. In a very large proportion of the 
cases in which these baths are required, the natural 
temperature is precisely that which would be desired. The 
degree of heat is that, at which the slightest degree of shock 
would be given on immersion, and a due amount of re-action 
be rendered the most certain to follow the use of the bath, 
—at which the good, without the evil effects of cold bathing, 
would be experienced. At any higher temperature, the 
regular use of the baths would be more likely to be 
attended by debilitating effects. Whereas, as has been 
stated, any such higher degree of heat for a bath may be 
obtained most readily, by the addition of a very small pro¬ 
portion of heated water; and with so much less risk of 









HOT BATHS OF BUXTON WATERS. 


105 


diminishing the amount of the medicinal properties of the 
waters. It may be advanced, that, if the Buxton waters had 
been of so much higher a degree of natural heat, that the 
water would have had to be lowered in its temperature, by 
the addition of cold or cooled water to it, in order to adapt 
its heat, for the purpose of bathing, to the requirements of 
a large number of invalids, more of the medicinal properties 
must have been diminished by such addition, or such 
exposure, than takes place under present circumstances; 
and if this water had been at such a natural degree of heat, 
that it could not have been used in any case without having 
been previously cooled by addition or exposure, the 
disadvantage and loss of properties must have been very 
important. But the proportion of invalids who use the 
natural baths, is greater than that of those who use the heated 
baths ; and those who use the heated baths have, as nearly as 
may be, the full advantage of the medicinal properties of the 
waters, to the extent to which the water used in the baths 
is in its untouched and natural state; the bath being only 
affected in that proportion in which hot water is added, 
and in which the whole of the-water in the bath may be 
supposed to be influenced by being mixed with so small a 
proportion of heated water, and by the temperature of all 
the water in the bath being raised any given number of 
degrees above the natural heat. The medicinal effect of 
the heated baths of the mineral water may have been 
hitherto further diminished, by the recumbent position in 
which they have had to be invariably made use of. No 







106 


HOT SWIMMING BATHS. 


amount of friction of the surface of tlie body by means of 
brushes or hand-rubbing, has the same amount of influence 
upon the absorbent powers of the skin, as active muscular 
exercise of the trunk of the body and of the limbs; involving 
as this does, the friction of the skin with the water itself, 
under the influence of the pressure exerted by the resistance of 
the water to the muscular movements, and of the pressure due 
to the weight of the superincumbent water in the bath itself. 
Such a degree of exercise, as may be used in a bath which is 
taken in the recumbent position, is necessarily much less in 
degree than that which may be had in a deeper bath, taken in 
the erect posture ; while the pressure of the water in the bath 
on the surface of the body, is as much less as the bath is less 
deep. So much greater an amount of effect as may be ascribed 
to this cause, will be obtained from the large and deep baths 
of the heated water, which are now constructed for the first 
time. The principal difference in effect between the heated 
and the natural water, is however, in all probability, due to 
the difference of temperature; and this difference cannot be 
so important as might have been supposed to be probable, for 
the reason that so little of the water has to be made hot, 
in order to raise the temperature of a bath of 82° to any 
required degree of heat up to 95°; beyond which temperature, 
it is rarely found to be either needful or expedient in any 
case, to raise the temperature of the water in these baths. 
It follows, that the greater the extent to which the mineral 
waters have to be heated, the greater the degree to which the 
medicinal efficacy is diminished. But when the above 





ACTION or THE HOT BATHS. 


1C7 


statements are carefully considered, it must be admitted to 
be wonderful that so small an addition of heated water to the 
natural water as is required, should influence the medicinal 
effects in any appreciable degree; and the usual estimate, 
that three baths of the water at the temperature of 95° are 
only equal to two natural baths, is at all events as high an 
estimate of the difference between the amount of relative 
effect as is justifiable. And, accordingly, numbers of cases, 
in which the use of these heated baths has to be trusted to 
exclusively, the use of the colder natural bath being contra¬ 
indicated by any individual circumstances of such cases, are 
found to be relieved or cured, and to experience the well- 
marked and specific effects of these mineral waters, as if the 
natural baths had been made use of. Many periosteal, 
neuralgic, spinal, paralytic, and atonic cases,—many cases of 
rheumatism and gout, attended with much debility,—many 
cases, in which acute or active morbid action has been recent, 
or perhaps may have imperfectly subsided,—many cases, in 
which disturbance or irritation of the heart’s action, or of 
the mucous or the fibrous tissues, or of any of the great 
viscera, may render the shock of a bath of 82° inexpedient 
or hazardous, and a less active agent than the unmodified 
baths of the Buxton tepid waters to be preferable, whether 
in the first instance, or throughout the course of the baths, 
—such cases, and they are very numerous, find in these hot- 
baths, adapted in temperature, &c., to the individual indica¬ 
tions, the means of using these waters without risk, and with 
every probability of benefit. 









168 


ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOT BATHS. 


The hot-bath department, placed, as has been said, at the 
east end of the Crescent; occupying a frontage to the south 
of ninety feet, and to the east of 180 feet; is connected 
with the Crescent, the Square, the Hall, and the natural 
baths, by a colonnade; and is divided into two separate parts, 
one of which is devoted to ladies, and the other to 
gentlemen. None of the baths in this department have had 
to be placed beneath existing structures, as has had to be 
done in regard to two of the public baths in ihe other 
department; a sufficiently extensive and unoccupied space of 
ground has been covered throughout by a ridge-and-furrow 
roof of glass, and arranged internally in the best and most 
efficient manner. 

The gentlemen’s hot-bath department, to which a 
colonnade in the south front of the building, eighty feet in 
length, gives access, is entered by a corridor which is likewise 
eighty feet long. The several baths are entered from this 
corridor. 

The Gentlemen’s Public Hot Bath is contained in an 
apartment which is thirty-four feet long and twenty-six feet 
wide, and contains dressing-closets, the hot douche appara¬ 
tus, and every desirable appurtenance. The bath itself, 
usually maintained at the temperature of 92°, is twenty- 
five and a half feet long and sixteen and a half feet wide, 
and is four feet eight inches deep. 

The range of Private Baths is extensive and complete, 
with separate dressing-rooms, and with shower, vapour, 
and douche-rooms, and with every other appliance wffiich 













ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOT BATHS. 


109 


may conduce to comfort or advantage. These baths are 
prepared of any beat that may be desired. 

The private hot-batlis are lined throughout with marble. 
The other baths are floored with marble, the sides of the 
baths being lined with the patent white porcelain-covered 
bricks. The douches in the hot-baths, whether used in 
connection with the baths, or separately in the adjoining 
douche-rooms, are served at the required temperatures. The 
private hot-baths are shallow, and used in the recumbent 
position. 

The ladies’ hot-batli department corresponds exactly , 
with that appropriated to gentlemen. It is entered by its 
separate corridor, eighty feet long, from the arcade on 
the south front of the building; the corridor giving 
access to a large warm public bath, twenty-five feet 
long, and sixteen feet wide, and four feet two inches 
deep, contained in a spacious apartment, with dressing- 
closets, hot-douche apparatus, and all other comforts and 
appliances; and the range of private hot-baths being like¬ 
wise extensive and complete, with separate dressing-rooms, 

—communicating with rooms for the use of the hot- 
douche, hot-shower, or vapour-bath, without immersion in 
the water. 

This great building likewise contains the hot-baths for 
the use of the patients of the Buxton Bath Charity. These 
baths are approached by an entrance on the north of the 
building. There are separate bath-rooms for men an'd for 
women, each containing two baths, with dressing-closets, 


i 











170 


COLD SWIMMING BATH. 


douche-closet, &c., and entered from a comfortable waiting- 
room. 

It had long been regretted that no other bath was attain¬ 
able at Buxton than those of the mineral water, the use of 
which would be to many persons of no particular value, and 
which might prove to be unduly stimulating or otherwise 
injurious to such persons. People in health had long 
wished to have a bath at Buxton of ordinary cold water, in 
which they might bathe without doubt or apprehension of 
evil consequences from the medicinal character of the water. 
This wish has been attended to in the new ranges of baths. 
A large public cold plunging bath has been provided. This 
bath, supplied with water which has percolated the gritstone, 
is contained in an apartment which is forty-two feet long, and 
twenty-seven feet wide. The bath is lined with the white 
porcelain-covered bricks, and floored with marble. The bath 
is twenty-five feet six inches long, and fifteen feet six 
inches wide, and is provided with separate dressing-closets, 
and every comfortable appendage. 

The account which has been given of the Baths of Buxton 
may be more clearly understood, and the character and 
amount of bathing accommodation be more completely 
appreciated, by reference to the subjoined ground-plans. 
The arrangement, the size, the number, and the convenient 
position of the baths will be thus understood, and the 
amount of provision which has been made for the wants of 
the public may be in some degree estimated. But the 
lightness, and elegance, and comfort of the interiors, and 













GROUND PLANS OP BATHS AND WELLS. 


171 


the happy adaptation of this new mode of architectural 
construction to these purposes, which have been obtained, 
must be seen and experienced to be adequately valued. 

It will be seen at once, from an examination of the plans 
(see the two following pages), that the corridors of the 
ladies’ and gentlemen’s ranges of natural baths, are entered 
from the colonnades at the west end of the Crescent, as are 
likewise the apartments containing the St. Anne’s Well and 
the Chalybeate Well; and that the corridors of the ladies’ 
and gentlemen’s ranges of hot baths, are entered from the 
colonnade at the east end of the Crescent. In order to 
realise their position and general effect, the natural-bath 
and hot-bath departments are to be considered to represent, 
respectively, west and east wings to the important structure 
with which they are connected, and with the architectural 
character of which they have been made to harmonise as 
far as possible. An attentive examination of the plans, in 
connection with a reference to the engravings at the 
beginning of the volume, will enable persons at a distance 
to understand the arrangements. 






GROUND PLAN OF THE NATURAL BATHS. 





SOUTH FRONT. 


























































































































GROUND PLAN OF THE HOT BATHS, THE COLD SWIMMING BATH, &o. 



SOUTH FRONT. 


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CHAPTER YI. 


PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND ALTERATIYE EFEECTS OF THE 
BUXTON TEPID WATERS. MORBID CONDITIONS FOR THE 
RELIEF OF WHICH THEY ARE USEFUL. CIRCUMSTANCES 
WHICH CONTRA-INDICATE THEIR USE. RULES FOR THE 
USE OF THE BATHS, AND FOR DRINKING THE TEPID 
WATERS. 

The effects of tlie baths of the Euxton tepid waters upon 
the human system, may be classed as primary, secondary, 
and alterative. 

The primary effects include the shock immediately expe¬ 
rienced on immersion in the water at the natural tempera¬ 
ture, and the re-action which should immediately follow the 
shock; whether the degree of the re-action he no greater 
than is necessary to restore the general balance of the 
circulation, or the re-action continue during many hours 
afterwards; such an amount of re-action being included in 
the primary effects, although it may produce a very 
important degree of stimulation on the nervous and mus¬ 
cular systems. The secondary effects, which are seldom 
experienced until several baths have been taken,—or in any 
very important degree unless they have been taken during 




PRIMARY EFFECTS OF THE BATHS. 


175 


several successive days, or unless the immersion has been 
continued during an unusual length of time, or unless the 
bath has been made use of by those suffering from special 
morbid conditions,—do not show themselves until some 
hours after the bath has been used; and are then character¬ 
ised by excitement, at times amounting to a feverish state. 
The alterative and ultimate effects of these baths, are not 
usually produced until several baths have been taken; and 
are then characterised by more or less of general depression 
and languor, and their accompanying indications. 

Under the head of the primary effects of these baths, is 
the degree of the shock which attends their use at the natural 
temperature ; and this is believed to be so far peculiar, that 
it is greater than would be occasioned by a bath of com¬ 
mon water at this tepid degree of heat. This greater degree 
of shock is probably due to the large proportion of gases 
contained in these waters: a proportion which, as there are 
277i cubic inches of water in an imperial gallon, and 209§- 
cubic inches of free carbonic acid and nitrogen gases in the 
gallon of these waters, very nearly amounts to a charge of 
the waters with their own bulk of gases. Usually, if the 
bath has been used under proper circumstances, the shock 
is of very short duration; and is followed, after a few 
seconds, and during the immersion, by a vigorous re-action. 
The degree of re-action is commonly greater than the 
degree of the shock which had preceded it, and much 
greater than would attend the use of a bath of ordinary 
water at the same temperature. The re-action, involving a 




176 


SECONDARY EFFECTS OF THE BATHS. 


general glow of heat over the whole body and limbs, a 
somewhat accelerated circulation, and a remarkable buoy¬ 
ancy of the feelings, usually continues during several hours 
after the bath, and is attended by an increase of appetite, 
and a marked degree of excitement of the spirits. The 
special effect of the baths of these mineral waters, in regard 
to the primary shock, and the re-action which immediately 
follows it, is however chiefly one of degree; the same effect, 
but less in its amount, being commonly experienced after 
bathing in common water. The warm baths of the Buxton 
mineral waters produce necessarily less shock, in proportion 
as the w r ater of the bath is more nearly of the same 
temperature as that of the human body; and the degree of 
the re-action is usually less, other things being equal, than 
that which follows the use of the natural baths; but it is 
usually greater, to a very marked extent, than commonly 
follows the use of a warm bath of ordinary water. 

The secondary effects of the Buxton baths are of a still 
more peculiar character; differing much more from that 
which follows the use of a bath of ordinary water, at any 
temperature. Seldom manifested until from eight to 
sixteen or eighteen hours after the use of the bath ; and 
seldom, unless under specially excitable and morbid condi¬ 
tions, until after several baths have been made use of; the 
degree of the secondary effects is added to, by the longer 
time that the bather has remained in the bath, by the more 
frequent repetition of the bath, and by the morbid or the 
constitutional susceptibility of the system to become unduly 








ALTERATIVE EFFECTS OF THE BATHS. 


177 


stimulated. These secondary effects include the increase of 
gouty and rheumatic pains, so commonly experienced at the 
commencement of a course of these baths, in such con¬ 
ditions of system; and likewise the thirst, restlessness, loss 
of sleep, feverish symptoms, and less active state of the 
excreting organs, during the course, and especially during 
the earlier part of the course, of the baths; for, as the course 
of baths is continued longer and longer, the secondary 
effects gradually subside, and are succeeded after a longer 
or shorter interval, which varies much in different cases, by 
the alterative effects; the feverish condition sometimes sub¬ 
siding altogether ; but in most cases, in the first instance, 
alternating with the indications of the alterative action.— 
alternating with the depression, languor, and eventual 
debility, which mark the full alterative action of these 
mineral waters. $ 

The alterative action of the baths is then essentially 
characterised by symptoms of debility ; and such symptoms 
—apart, of course, from the relief of pain, the partially or 
entirely restored use of crippled limbs, or the generally 
improved state of the several organic functions—constitute 
the great and conclusive proof of the full medicinal action 
of the baths of the Buxton tepid waters. And it may be 
strongly said, that the full effects of the baths can seldom be 
considered to have been obtained, until some indications of 
diminished general power have been shown. It is often of 
some importance, in cases where much morbid condition has 

to be removed, to determine how far the alterative action of 

\1 

i 3 





178 


ALTERATIVE EFFECTS OF THE BATHS. 


the baths should be continued; and in most such cases, the 
course has to be interrupted and resumed many times. 
Sometimes two courses, and more rarely three courses of 
the baths, may be advisably used in the course of the same 
year ; interrupted by a sufficient interval of time, to enable 
the powers and general balance of the system to be so far 
restored, as to justify the resumed use of so powerful an 
alterative as these waters are. It is often a great mistake 
to infer, that the full benefit derivable from their use is 
certain to be obtained from one, or two, or even more 
courses of the baths. I have seen—in the course of the 
eighteen years, during which the effects of these waters 
have been under my observation — very many cases in 
which a large and even unlooked for degree of benefit 
has been obtained; but in which, after a persevering use of 
the baths through two or three courses, they have been 
abandoned; because they had not proved to be completely 
curative, although they had been so largely remedial. I 
have seen the bed-ridden sufferers from gout and from 
rheumatism, enabled to walk about again, with the aid of 
crutch, or stick, or both; and enabled, contrary to any 
reasonable expectation that could have been entertained, to 
resume the horse-exercise, which had been impracticable for 
months or years; and yet the hopeful continued use of these 
waters has been abandoned, because a more rapid and entire 
relief has not been afforded. It cannot be too early, or too 
anxiously, impressed on the minds of such sufferers from 
the most severe forms of gout or of rheumatism, that a 







DISEASES BELIEVABLE BY THE BATHS. 


179 


strong constitutional bias, the gradual result of hereditary 
predisposition, or of the misdoings of years, and unchecked 
morbid action, may not be entirely curable, even by the 
use of such a great agent as these waters; or if curable, 
may only prove to be so after a long, persevering, and 
patient use; and that a certain amount of relief, the degree 
of which may be even beyond all reasonable hope, ought 
to afford an amply sufficient motive for their continued use. 

The diseases for the relief of which the Buxton baths are 
found to be the most eminently useful, are, rheumatism, 
gout, neuralgia, and certain forms of spinal, uterine, and 
dyspeptic affections. Many of the disordered conditions 
which are incidental to old age—much of the deranged 
health incidental to middle age in females—much of the 
uterine irregularity and disturbed condition, incidental to 
females at various periods of life—much of the nervous 
weakness, that is indicated by tic-doloureux in its various 
forms, sciatica, &c.—much of the functional derangement of 
the kidneys, which is consequent upon exposure, intem¬ 
perance, or advanced life—much of the disordered and 
painful conditions of the bladder, &c., dependent on old 
age, gout, &c.,—much of the local loss of nervous, and 
thence of muscular power, dependent upon the poisonous 
effects of lead, mercury, &c.—are usually remediable, and in 
an important degree, by the use of these mineral baths. The 
painful or crippling consequences, which often follow such 
injuries as fractures, dislocations, sprains, bruises of tendons 
and ligaments, and the like, are commonly influenced and 








180 CONDITIONS CONTRA-INDICATING THE BATHS. 


relieved by the use of these baths, in the most satisfactory 
degree. 

The presence of acute inflammation, and the existence of 
organic disease in any of the great organs essential to life, 
usually contra-indicate altogether the use of these baths. 
The intimate connection between paralysis and disease of 
the brain, or spinal chord, or their immediate envelopements, 
—the equally intimate connection between rheumatism and 
affections of the heart,—the frequent occurrence of pains of 
rheumatic character, in connection with the general derange¬ 
ment of health, consequent upon affections of the liver or 
the kidneys,—the connection between gout and visceral 
congestion, and all the important bearings and consequences 
of such congestion,—the degree of liability there is, in acute 
or subacute gouty and rheumatic states, to metastasis,—are, 
severally, cogent reasons for the exercise of care and judg¬ 
ment in the use of the baths. It cannot be said too 
strongly, that no invalid should leave his home in order to 
make use of these baths, without the express advice and 
sanction of his usual medical attendant; and medical men 
cannot be made too fully cognizant of the ^stimulating and 
alterative character of these mineral waters. And, more¬ 
over, as no medical man who has not personally been 
concerned in the use and effects of the waters, can know so 
much about them as those who have their effects under 
their continual observation, it may be said, with equal truth 
and emphasis, that no person ought to use these waters 
without the sanction and direction of a medical man resident 
















EFFECT OF THE WARMER BATHS. 


181 


in Buxton. It is my duty to state this in so many words, 
and to urge it upon public attention ; and the seniority of 
my position enables me to do this with a less chance of 
misconstruction, and justifies me in doing so. 

The warmer baths of the Buxton waters are weaker, less 
stimulating, and less alterative in their effect, in the same pro¬ 
portion as they are raised in their temperature above that of 
82°; and inasmuch as, when not heated beyond the tempe¬ 
rature of 95°—that is, when no more of the same water 
heated is added to a much larger bulk of the water at the 
natural temperature, than is required to raise the whole 
water in a bath to 95°, or less—not only a sufficiently large, 
but a definable proportion of the medicinal effects, is retained ; 
inasmuch as the shock, with its risks, in the cases of feeble 
and excitable invalids, is thus got rid of; inasmuch as the 
primary stimulation, and the secondary febrile state, and 
the iiltimate alterative effects, are thus modified; the use of 
these warmer baths frequently serves as a valuable introduc¬ 
tion to the after use of the natural baths, and as a very useful 
substitute for them in cases where debility, or excitability, 
would render the use of the natural baths unwise or unsafe. 

Neither the natural baths nor the warmer baths ought to 
be used every day. When so used, the alterative effects 
are very liable to be manifested suddenly, and in excess. 
Strong men who have ventured to bathe in these waters 
every day, have often become suddenly and very unnecessarily 
debilitated; and in the case of rheumatism and other 
ailments having been the occasion for using these baths, the 



182 


RULES EOR BATHING. 


disadvantage lias arisen that the bathing has had to be dis¬ 
continued for a time, and sometimes for months; the full, 
and otherwise realisable degree of relief, not having been 
obtained. The impatience to secure the benefit from the 
use of the baths in as short a time as possible, and the 
anxiety to return to their homes and occupations, lead many 
to make such excessive use of them, and supply ample 
and conclusive experience as to their powerful character. 
Generally the baths are to be used every other day; or 
on two successive days, their use being omitted on the 
third day. 

The time of the day for bathing is a question of much 
importance. The baths have usually most effect when 
used before breakfast, and are commonly the best borne 
about three hours after breakfast. The system is found 
to be more susceptible to the action of medicinal agents, 
before breakfast; probably because the nervous and vascular 
powers are more vigorous at that time, and the tissues are 
then in a more absorbent condition. It is well known that 
stimulants produce greater effect when taken before break¬ 
fast, and tonics are seldom wisely directed to be taken 
at that time; and, on the same principle, the baths of 
these mineral and stimulating waters are not by any means 
always wisely ordered to be used before breakfast; and, 
on the contrary, many invalids are unable to bathe with 
comfort or even safety before breakfast, who do so without 
discomfort between breakfast and dinner. The time for 
using the baths after breakfast, depends much upon the kind 






RULES FOR BATHING. 


183 


and amount of the breakfast, and the rapidity of digestion. 
The larger and heavier the meal, and the more slow the 
digestion, the longer should the bath be deferred. And, on 
the other hand, in the cases of much enfeebled persons, 
and of those who from habit, or want of appetite, or 
general debility, eat but sparingly at breakfast, and of the 
most easily assimilated kinds of food, the use of the baths 
may not be wisely deferred beyond the end of the second 
hour after breakfast, as the complete digestion of the food 
in the stomach is apt to be followed by an unmistakeable 
degree of languor, and the bath is not so well borne under 
such circumstances. It is generally advisable to use the 
baths between breakfast and dinner, at the commence¬ 
ment of the course; and in some cases to use them before 
breakfast afterwards, when the effects shall have been 
proved to be moderate, and the extra effect obtained by 
bathing before breakfast may even be thought to be 
desirable. Usually, more baths have to be taken during a 
course, if the baths are used after breakfast; and a longer 
period of immersion should be ordered if the baths are 
used after breakfast, than if used before breakfast. The 
more feeble the person, the more excitable the individual 
constitution, and the more febrile or inflammatory the 
nature of the ailment, the less desirable it is to bathe 
before breakfast; and the less susceptible the individual 
system, the stronger the system, and the more obstinate 
and unimpressible the nature of the ailment, the more 
desirable it is that the baths should be used before 









184 


RULES POR BATHING. 


breakfast. The time during which persons should remain 
in the baths varies very much; but should seldom if ever 
equal the long periods which are found to be expedient, in 
using many of the continental mineral baths. From one 
minute, or less, to ten minutes, and very rarely to fifteen or 
twenty minutes, is usually found to be a sufficient time for 
the immersions in the natural baths ; and from three minutes 
to twenty minutes, and very rarely longer than the latter 
time, in the warmer baths. Generally, the time of immer¬ 
sion should be longer in the warmer baths, than in the 
natural baths; and longer, the higher the temperature 
of the warmer baths may be. Usually, if the temperature 
of the warmer baths is not gradually reduced, in order to 
bring the case more and more within the influence of the 
medicinal effects, or in order to prepare the patient to com¬ 
mence the use of the natural baths, the time for remaining in 
the baths should be increased. It is seldom wise to begin 
the course of either the warmer or the natural baths, by 
remaining in the water for the same time which may 
properly be allowed after several baths have been taken, and 
the system has become somewhat accustomed to the stimu¬ 
lating effects of the waters. 

When the warmer baths are not indicated,—either as 
preparatory to the use of the natural baths, or as being 
exclusively adapted to the individual case,—and the use of the 
natural bath might be justifiably begun at once, the use of 
the warmer baths may be deprecated as involving exactly as 
much loss of time, as these baths are less powerful in their 





HULES FOH BATHING. 


185 


effects than the natural baths, besides being in some instances 
less suited, or even occasionally altogether unsuitable. This 
often applies to dyspeptic conditions,—to cases of gout, 
rheumatism, &c., attended by cutaneous irritation, with or 
without the scorbutic character,—to relaxed states of the 
female constitution, without visceral congestion or obstruc¬ 
tion,—and to such cases of spinal derangement as are not 
marked by irritation, but by general or local relaxation, and 
consequent diminution of power and defective function. 
There are many cases of hysteria, chorea, facial tic, &c., in 
which the w r armer baths are either used without advantage, 
or even disadvantageous^; and in which the use of the 
natural baths is attended with the best effects. 

But there is a much larger number of morbid conditions, 
in which the use of the natural baths is unsafe or unjusti¬ 
fiable, and in which the use of the warmer baths is beneficial. 
Such are cases of gout, rheumatism, or neuralgia, accompa¬ 
nied by marked irritability of the general system, or by an 
evident tendency to assume an inflammatory character. Such 
are cases in which there is irritation or disturbance of 
the heart’s action; cases in which there is a congestive 
or irritative condition of the mucous membranes; cases of 
hepatic congestion, irritation, sluggishness, or disturbance 
of function ; and, generally, cases of congestion or irritation 
of any of the great internal organs; such congestion or 
irritation not being sufficient in degree, or in the im¬ 
portance of its bearings or connections, to justify the 
withholding the baths when otherwise strongly indicated for 






186 


RULES FOR BATHING. 


the relief of the special conditions in which these baths 
are useful. 

The baths should not be made use of after dinner, and 
not later than three or four hours after breakfast, if the 
system is very excitable, or there is any reason to infer a 
probability that the baths may disagree. The most convenient 
times for using the baths, when not thus contra-indicated 
at those times, are before breakfast, and an hour before 
dinner. It is necessary, in almost all cases, to return to the 
lodging as soon as possible after leaving the bath, and to 
remain wdthin doors during two or more hours afterwards, 
according to the season and the weather. In dry and 
warm weather, two hours will generally be sufficient for 
this purpose; but in cold and damp weather, it may be 
advisable to remain in the house three or four hours, or 
even during the whole remainder of the day. Remaining 
thus quiet during so long a time after using the baths, not 
only diminishes the risk of taking cold after them—for the 
degree of excitement produced by the baths renders this 
unlikely, and of rare occurrence—but it lessens the chance 
of undue excitement of the system after the bath, and is 
therefore to be generally and strongly advised. The tendency 
to go to sleep after using the bath, which is often great, 
should be resisted in all cases. Sleeping, until some hours 
after using the baths, almost always deranges, and excites, 
and adds to the risk of congestion, and should be watchfully 
avoided. 

Drinking these waters produces much the same effect on 









RULES FOR DRINKING THE WATERS. 


187 


the system, as is produced by the baths; they are, however, 
more immediately stimulating, and less eventually alterative 
in their effects, than the baths. They act occasionally as an 
aperient; but this is uncertain and unsatisfactory, and 
rather indicates irritation than relief, suggesting their 
discontinuance until some corrective medicine has been 
made use of, such as may relieve the congestive or morbid 
condition of the abdominal organs and secretions, upon which 
this effect from the internal use of the waters almost always 
depends. They ought to act upon the kidneys ; and their 
value as a diuretic, and corrective of some morbid conditions 
of the urine, is very great. They ought not to occasion 
headache, or thirst, or loss of appetite, or broken or dis¬ 
turbed sleep, or feverishness ; but they ought, on the contrary, 
to promote appetite and digestion. Their use is often of 
great value in such cases as the baths would be prescribed 
for, but from circumstances contra-indicating their use. The 
internal use of the waters is eminently auxiliary to the effect 
of the baths, and should always be used in connection with 
the use of the baths, when not contra-indicated. The degree 
of excitement immediately occasioned by them, however, 
makes it needful to forbid their use in many cases, in which 
the baths may be used without any disadvantage. This 
remark applies to a large number of cases of gout. The 
waters should not be drunk either immediately before, or 
immediately after the use of the bath. It is desirable that 
the possibility of the twofold excitement, caused by using 
the waters in both ways, without some interval of time, 






188 


RULES FOR DRINKING THE WATERS. 


should be avoided. If the bath is not used before break¬ 
fast, the first glass of the waters, and in some cases 
two glasses of the waters, may be taken before break¬ 
fast ; and the second or third glass may be taken, when not 
interfering with the time of the bath, three hours after 
breakfast. Or the second, or third, or fourth glass of the 
waters, may be taken two or three hours after the bath, or 
an hour before dinner, or three hours after an early dinner. 
It is seldom necessary to take more than two half-pints of 
the vcaters every day. There are three differently-sized 
glasses at the St. Anne’s well; the one containing a quarter 
of a pint, the second one-third of a pint, and the largest 
half a pint. It is generally advisable that the smallest glass 
should be used at the beginning of the course; increasing 
the dose again and again, at the interval of a day or two, if 
no contra-indication should occur. The waters are so fullv 
charged with gas, and until the system has become accus¬ 
tomed to its use, the gas is so apt to occasion some degree 
of giddiness or even headache, that it is prudent at first to 
drink the waters by sips, and even to hold the glass in the 
hand a few seconds before beginning to drink it; but this 
seldom applies to more than the few first times of drinking 
the waters; and afterwards it is desirable, in order to secure 
the whole of the gas, or as much of it as may be, to drink 
the waters as rapidly and immediately as possible, after 
receiving it from the attendant at the well. It is desirable, 
if possible, to walk after drinking the water, in order to 
expedite its absorption from the stomach. The amount of 



RULES EOR DRINKING THE WATERS. 


189 


walking found to be desirable on this account, varies from 
ten minutes to an hour, or more. The expediency of 
remaining within doors, during one or more hours after 
using the baths, and of walking for some little time imme¬ 
diately after drinking the waters, is an additional reason 
why the use of the baths and the drinking of the waters 
should, if possible, be at different times of the day. The 
waters should seldom be drunk later than four or five 
o’clock in the afternoon. When more than two glasses of 
the waters during the day are indicated, the additional 
quantities may be taken from half an hour to an hour or 
more after the previous glass, according to the readiness 
with which the waters are found to be absorbed from the 
stomach. The internal use of these waters is often 
extremely useful, in cases of bronchial irritation and 
relaxation, urinary affections, and irritation of the bladder, 
in which the use of the baths may or may not be advisable. 




CHAPTER VII. 


—♦— 

ANALYSIS, CHARACTER, AND TJSES OF THE CHALYBEATE 

WATER. 

Between tlie limestone and gritstone formations at 
Buxton, there is a narrow bed of shale, containing a 
considerable proportion of iron; and from this spring arises 
a very useful ‘chalybeate. This water has been long and 
extensively used and valued. It is an excellent chaly¬ 
beate ; fortunately, as nearly as may be, free from alum. It 
is therefore as little astringent in its effects as possible, and 
acts as a mild and efficacious tonic, producing the usual 
effects of iron upon the constitution, and in the perfectly 
satisfactory way that only chalybeate waters attain—being 
more certain in the effect, more secure of absorption, and less 
apt to heat the system, or engorge the membranes or 
viscera, than any artificial way of exhibiting iron medicinally. 
This water has a distinct chalybeate taste, is colourless and 
inodorous, and is of the ordinary temperature of the atmo¬ 
sphere. It was analysed by Dr. Lyon Playfair, in the year 
1852, with the following results. The imperial gallon was 
found to contain— 








THE CHALYBEATE WATER. 


191 


Proto-carbonate of Iron . 

Grains. 

. 1-044 

Silica .... 


Alumina 

. . . . trace 

Sulphate of Lime 

. . . . 2-483 

Sulphate of Magnesia . 

. 0-431 

Carbonate of Magnesia 

. . . . 0‘303 

Sulphate of Potash 

. 0-147 

Chloride of Sodium . 

. . 1-054 

Chloride of Potassium . 

. . . . 0'460 


7-082 


The value of such an excellent and simple chalybeate water 
is necessarily very great, in a place which is resorted to by 
such large numbers of invalids, for the use of the baths of 
the tepid waters, or for the benefit of the great and useful 
change of air, which the mountain elevation, and the lime¬ 
stone and gritstone soils of the Buxton district, afford to 
important classes of invalided conditions. There are great 
numbers of invalids who use the Buxton baths advantage¬ 
ously, in whose cases the internal use of the tepid waters is 
not advantageous, and in whom the internal use of the 
chalybeate water proves to be eminently serviceable. There 
are many cases in which the use of the tepid waters is not 
indicated, either as baths or internally, that take the chaly¬ 
beate water with advantage; and there are some cases, of 
not unfrequent occurrence, in which the chalybeate and 
tepid waters are mixed together, and so taken with much 
benefit. It is curious, that when so mixed, they are often 
found to have a laxative effect; whereas the tendency of the 
chalybeate water alone, and in some degree the tendency of 







192 


THE CHALYBEATE WATER. 


the tepid water, is to produce a constipated rather than a 
laxative effect. 

The chalybeate water should not he taken before break¬ 
fast. When so taken, it is liable to induce headache, and 
feverishness, and gastric disturbance, in cases where it 
suits well when taken at other times. The best times for 
drinking the chalybeate water, are between the breakfast 
and the dinner, when two or more glasses, of larger or 
smaller size, may be taken at intervals of one or two hours. 
The quantity taken at a time may be from a quarter of a 
pint to half a pint. It should not occasion headache or 
feverishness ; it should promote appetite and digestion, and 
not interfere disadvantageously with either. If it should 
occasion thirst, or uneasiness, or sense of distension of 
stomach, it should probably be discontinued. It is advisable, 
if possible, to walk after drinking the water. 

The chalybeate water is of much value as a collyrium, in 
many cases of weakness and chronic irritation of the eyes. 
It is of more use as an eye-water, than might have been 
expected from a reference to its composition. It should be 
applied by means of the usual eye-glass adapted to this 
purpose; and it should be used freely. 

The chalybeate water is extremely valuable as an applica¬ 
tion, auxiliary to the baths and douches of the tepid waters, 
for the relief of indolent swellings of the joints, &c., so often 
left after the subsidence of rheumatic conditions. When 
poured over the joints affected, in directed and regulated 
quantities, once, or twice, or three times a day, it has 





THE CHALYBEATE WATER. 


193 


appeared to stimulate the absorbents to a much greater 

degree, than has been found to attend the similar application 

/■- 

of common water at the same temperature. This success 
has led to its use by means of sponging and friction, in similar 

a* 

cases, and with good effect; and this, to the use of the affusion 
of this water down the spine, and to sponging and friction of 
the back with it, in some forms of spinal weakness and irri¬ 
tation, with good effect. In some paralytic conditions, like¬ 
wise, whether dependent on cerebral or spinal affection, the 
use of the affusion of this water, or of sponging and friction 
with it, over the head, or down the back, according to the 
nature of the case, has often been attended with good 
effect. 




K. 




CHAPTER YIII. 


- ¥ - 

THE SUPPLY OE GRITSTONE WATER EOR DOMESTIC AND 

ORDINARY PURPOSES. 

There are not many questions which are of greater 
importance in regard to the health of people in different 
localities, or which have met with less full and practical 
consideration, than the extent and the character of the 
water supplied for domestic and ordinary purposes. Use 
has been made of the advantageous position of Buxton, in 
regard to this important particular. There is an abundant 
supply of remarkably pure water. The water of calcareous 
districts generally is more or less objectionable for domestic 
uses, inasmuch as, according to its degree of hardness, the 
solvent power of the water is lessened; and all cleansing 
and washing purposes so far interfered with, and the infusion 
of tea, the boiling of vegetables, &c., so much less readily 
completed. And, moreover, even persons who reside habi¬ 
tually in calcareous districts, are occasionally found to suffer 
from the calcareous matters contained in the water, and 
more especially from their astringent effect; and strangers, 






THE GRITSTONE WATER. 


195 


not accustomed to the use of such waters, suffer much more 
frequently, and to a greater degree. It is one of the valu¬ 
able circumstances referable to the gritstone formation 
which adjoins Buxton, that the water-supply for domestic 
purposes is derived from it. The water is brought from two 
sources : the one, of higher level, locally known as the cold 
springs, arising near to Comb’s Moss, on the right of the 
Manchester road, about a mile from Buxton; the other, 
from a stream in the lower grounds, nearly a mile to the 
left of this place. The waters from both these places were 
examined by Dr. Lyon Playfair, with the following results : 

“ Buxton , 3 Oth August, 1852. 

“ Dear Dr. Robertson, 

“ I have examined the water with which Buxton is now 
supplied (for domestic and ordinary purposes), and find it to be pure 
and soft, such as is indeed to be expected from a water flowing from 
the millstone grit. Its hardness is of two degrees; that is to say, it 
is of the same hardness as would be given to one gallon of distilled 
water, by dissolving in it two grains of chalk, (carbonate of lime). 

“The water from the brook, which is intended to be used for the 
further supply of Buxton, is 4'35° (4^ degrees) of hardness. This is 
also a soft water, though twice as hard as the previous sample. 

“Perhaps you may judge better of the relative qualities of these 
waters, by contrasting them with the water of the river Thames, which 
is about 13 degrees of hardness. 

“ I am, very sincerely yours, 

“ LYON PLAYFAIR.” 

A curious circumstance connected with the use of this 
water by strangers is, that it is occasionally found to be too 
pure. The taste of the water is considered to be vapid by 

k 2 






196 


THE GRITSTONE WATER. 


% 


some, who have been accustomed to use waters impregnated 
strongly with earthy or saline matters ; and the change to 
the use of this water, from that of less pure water, has been 
known to produce some degree of discomfort in very delicate 
and highly sensitive systems. In such cases, the water of 
the cold calcareous springs has been desirably substituted for 
the gritstone water; and Buxton is variously and sufficiently 
supplied with water of this kind. The brook which runs 
across the fields from "Wye-head, is of this kind of water. 

















CHAPTER IX. 


-♦-- 

HISTORY, PROGRESS, POSITION, AND USEFULNESS OF THE 

BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 

It is a peculiarly grateful task, in an account of Buxton and 
its mineral waters, to set forth the doings and claims of the 
Buxton Bath Charity. This charitable institution has 
gradually arisen, from apparently small beginnings, to its 
present position of extensive usefulness. It is recorded by 
Dr. Jones, in his work so often cited, that Buxton was much 
resorted to by poor afflicted persons, in the middle of the 
sixteenth century; and indeed the petition which has been 
previously mentioned, from the inhabitants of the adjoin¬ 
ing village of Fairfield, which w'as addressed to Queen 
Elizabeth, in the year 1595, for a grant from the Boyal 
bounty for the maintenance of a chaplain, on the ground 
that they w r ere too much impoverished to do this for them¬ 
selves, by reason of the urgent and continual claims for 
relief on the part of the many poor sufferers, resorting to the 
Buxton baths, confirms the opinion, that the numbers of the 
poor persons who then made use of the waters, must have 
been very considerable. It may be fairly gathered from the 











198 


THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 


various ancient writers on these waters, that these poor 
persons had been so far aided, from time immemorial, as to 
have had the use of the baths allowed to them gratuitously. 
Dr. Jones, indeed, speaks of “ the treasury of the bath ” as 
being partly devoted “ to the use of the poor that only for 
help do come hither;” but whether this is said in furtherance 
of a fund that had been already in existence, or only by way 
of suggestion for the formation of such a fund, does not 
clearly appear. Dr. Jones adds, however, an appeal that 
deserves to be quoted in all works that may be written 
concerning the waters of Buxton:—“ If any think this 
magisterial imposing on people’s pockets, let them consider 
their abilities, and the sick poor’s necessities, and think 
whether they do not in idle pastimes throw away in vain 
twice as much yearly; it may entail the blessing of them that 
are ready to perish upon you, and will afford a pleasant after 
reflection. G-od has given you physic for nothing; let the 
poor and afflicted (it may be members of Christ) have a 
little of your money; it may be the better for your own 
health. Heaven might have put them in your room, and you 
in theirs; then a supply would have been acceptable to you.” 

It would seem, then, that the invalided poor, resorting to 
Buxton for the use of its baths and waters, had thus early met 
with aid as to their gratuitous use, and also with a kindly 
solicitude and attention from medical men in attendance at 
the baths ; for it would appear to have been the custom, in 
earlier times, as it is said to be even now in some of the 
continental watering places, that the medical attendants 













THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 


199 


were wont to afford their instructions in the bath-apartments, 
and personally superintend the fulfilment of their directions. 
So much is left in obscurity, as to periods of time less 
remote from our own than that now referred to, that it is 
little wonder the early history of Buxton should have left no 
more traces than these of the origin of the Buxton Bath 
Charity; and it cannot but be regretted, that the ancient 
records, which appear to have been kept at these baths, by 
the medical attendant when he was present, and by the bath- 
keeper in the absence of the physician, of the “ name, place 
of abode, coming thither and departure, condition, calling, 
disease, and symptoms, and the benefit received,” should have 
been destroyed. A more curious and interesting record than 
such an ancient register would now be considered to be, 
cannot well be imagined. It is not, however, known, at 
what distant period of time, baths were first provided at 
Buxton for the gratuitous use of the poor; nor is it even 
known, when baths were first provided for the separate and 
exclusive use of the poor bathers. 

I am in possession of a printed document, which bears the 
date of 1785, in which it is stated that a pecuniary fund for 
the assistance of poor bathers had originated in the year 
1779 ; and this paper is evidently a copy of an annual report 
of this charity, which has probably been issued regularly 
from that time to the present: although I have not been 
able to meet with any copies of these reports between the 
years 1785 and 1818. It is not known when £< tlie poor’s 
treasury,” if such really had existed, ceased to be supplied 







200 


THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 


with funds; hut enough has been said to show, that the 
Buxton Bath Charity may claim to be one of the most 
ancient charitable institutions in the kingdom. The fund, 
which has, at all events, since the year 1779, been regularly 
provided by charitable persons, for the assistance of poor 
bathers, must have been at first of a very moderate amount, 
as the number who were to receive pecuniary relief from it was 
limited to “ sixteen objects at one time,” and it was only given 
during the six summer months. Since the year 1820, the 
annual reports of the institution show that 33,709 patients 
have been admitted to the use of the baths connected with 
it; and that of this number, 27,008 were dismissed as having 
been either cured or much relieved, only 6,701 having had 
to be sent away as being only somewhat relieved, or no better, 
from the use of the waters. Extending over so many years 
as from 1820 to 1853, and embracing such large numbers 
of cases, these records are ample enough to satisfy the most 
sceptical inquirer. And as to the nature of the ailments, in 
regard to which so great a degree of success has been 
obtained by the skilled use of the Buxton waters, it should 
be stated that a very large proportion of the cases have been 
those of rheumatism,—and of rheumatism, for the relief of 
which hospital and dispensary appliances, and the efforts of 
the private practitioner, have been tried in vain; and, 
moreover, that the results have been obtained, for the most 
part, by the use of the Buxton baths and waters for average 
periods of only from three to four weeks. The chronic and 
obstinate character of the generality of these cases, is 









V 


THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 201 

sufficiently explained by the difficulty with which poor 
people are enabled to leave their homes; and by the fact, 
that, notwithstanding the pecuniary assistance afforded by 
the institution, and the gratuitous provision of medical 
advice, medicines, and baths, few poor persons are enabled 
to defray the cost of a journey to Buxton and back, and 
remain there during the three or four w r eeks necessary to 
complete a course of the baths, at a less outlay from their 
own resources, than about two pounds sterling. This circum¬ 
stance, moreover, causes attempts to impose upon public 
liberality on the part of healthy persons, or of persons 
suffering from less severe or less obstinate forms of ailment, 
to be too unprofitable, to be of frequent occurrence. 
That many much afflicted poor persons should, notwith¬ 
standing so large an expenditure, from scanty funds, contrive 
to visit Buxton every year, or almost every year, as the only 
means which they find to be effectual, in warding off such a 
degree of crippling of the limbs, as would prevent them from 
pursuing the occupation by which they earn their livelihood, 
may be regarded as supplying strong evidence of the 
medicinal value of the baths and waters. 


K 3 





202 


THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY 


The following is an abstract of the Report of the Buxton Bath Charity, for 
the year ending September 5,1853. 

BUXTON BATH CHARITY, 

Instituted for tlie relief of poor persons, from all parts, suffering from 
Rheumatism, Gout, Sciatica, and Neuralgia; Pains, Weakness, or 
Contractions of Joints or Limbs, arising from these Diseases, or 
from Sprains, Dislocations, Fractures, or other local injuries; 
Chronic forms of Paralysis, Dropped Hands, and other Poisonous 
effects of Lead, Mercury, or other Minerals; Spinal Affections, 
Dyspeptic Complaints, Uteriue Obstructions, &c. 

SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Patrons. 

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G. 

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK, K.G. | THE DUKE OF RUTLAND, K.G. 

President. 

LORD VISCOUNT COMBERMERE, G.C.B. 

Utcespresittmts. 

SIR JOHN HARPUR CREWE, BART., CALKE ABBEY, DERBYSHIRE. 

E. S. CHANDOS POLE, ESQ., RADBOURNE HALL, DERBYSHIRE. 

EDMUND DENISON, ESQ., M.P., DONCASTER. 

ROGER HALL, ESQ., NARROW WATER, IRELAND. 

R. FOSBROKE BUCKLEY, ESQ., CHESTER. 

DANIEL GRANT, ESQ., MANCHESTER. 

SIR RODERIC MURCHISON, F.R.S., BELGRAVE SQUARE, LONDON. 
WILLIAM EVANS, ESQ., ALLEST11EE HALL, DERBYSHIRE. 

RICHARD BETHELL, ESQ., THE RISE, HULL. 

EDMUND BUCKLEY, ESQ., MANCHESTER. 

trustees. 

THE RIGHT REV. LORD BISHOP SPENCER, EDGEMOOR, NEAR BUXTON. 
THE REV. R. P. HULL BROWN, WEST LODGE, BUXTON. 

SAMUEL GRIMSHAWE, ESQ., ERRWOOD HALL, NEAR BUXTON. 

SYDNEY SMITHERS, ESQ., THE CRESCENT, BUXTON. 

WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTSON, ESQ., M.D., THE SQUARE, BUXTON. 
THOMAS CARSTAIRS, ESQ., M.D., THE SQUARE, BUXTON. 

W. P. SHIPTON, ESQ., M.R.C.S., L.A.C., TERRACE ROAD, BUXTON. 

^Treasurer. 

SYDNEY SMITHERS, ESQ. 

&ccrctavg. 

MR. JAMES WARDLEY, BUXTON. 












THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 


203 


1334 patients have been admitted to the baths, during the year 
ending on the 5th of September, 1853 ; of whom were— 

Cured, or much relieved . . . . .710 

Relieved.519 

No better.41 

Remaining on the Books . . . . . 64 

1334 


In addition to the new charity baths supplied with the mineral 
waters at their natural temperature, which were erected last year, the 
trustees have now the satisfaction to report the completion of new hot 
baths for the use of this charity, adjoining the new public hot baths 
recently erected for the Duke of Devonshire; and they cannot omit 
again to acknowledge his Grace’s great liberality, in aiding to provide, in 
so efficient a manner, for the relief of the poor resorting to the baths at 
Buxton. The medical trustees hope, by means of these baths, to extend 
the benefits of the institution, in a considerable degree. Hot baths, in 
connection with this charity, are now available for a much larger num¬ 
ber of patients than heretofore; and a greater range of disordered con¬ 
ditions is brought within the advantageous use of the mineral waters. 

BULES. 

1. A Donation of £10 constitutes a Life Subscriber, with power to 

recommend a patient to the full benefit of the charity, as per 
Rule 2. 

2. A Subscriber of One Guinea may recommend a poor patient, who 

will receive medical advice, medicines, the use of the baths, and 
a gratuity of five shillings weekly, for the period of three 
weeks. 

3. A Subscriber of Half-a Guinea may recommend a poor patient, 

who will receive medical advice, medicines, the use of the baths, 
and half-a-crown weekly, for the period of three weeks. 

4. A Subscriber of Half-a-Crown may recommend a poor patient, 

who will receive medical advice, medicines, and the use of the 
baths, without pecuniary assistance. 

5. Any person in need of the use of the charity baths is admitted 

thereto, on producing a certificate from the clergyman of his or 
her parish, or from his or her medical attendant, as to inability 
to pay for the same. 





204 


THE BUXTON BATH CHARITY. 


6. No person is allowed to use the charity baths without the written 

sanction of one of the medical trustees of the Institution. 

7. In consequence of several inappropriate cases having been sent, 

there must be annexed to every recommendation a medical 
certificate of the nature of the complaint, and of the patient’s 
fitness for the use of the baths, without which certificate no 
patient can in future be admitted. 

All applications in reference to the admission of patients, are 
to be addressed to the Secretary, Mr. James Wardley, Buxton, 
Derbyshire. 


The fifth of these Rules is so liberal in its character, that 
great care should be used in ascertaining, as far as may be, 
the poverty of the persons recommended. The neglect of 
the seventh of these Rules so frequently occasions dis¬ 
appointment, and a loss of the time, trouble, and cost of 
the journey to Buxton, that the Rule cannot be too earnestly 
pointed out to the attention of medical men, and of the 
public generally. 





APPENDIX. 

—.— 

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS WHICH GROW IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 
BUXTON, WITH A BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. BY MISS HAWKINS. 

I do not imagine that the following list is complete, as many 
plants may have been overlooked ; and no mention is made of 
the grasses or mosses, owing to the difficulty of giving a correct 
list of them. 

« 

Ellen Hawkins. 

Rock Head, near Buxton, 

4f h May, 1854. 


Proceeding along the road from Buxton to Bakewell, the 
first plant worthy of particular notice, is the Golden Saxifrage 
(Chrysoplenium oppositifolium). It grows very near the river, 
and flowers in May. Near the same place may be found the 
Red and Black Currant (Ribes rubrum, and R. nigrum), and 
also the Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia). But though it is 
natural for these shrubs to grow in damp soil, near a river, it is 
possible that the spot where these are found may be the remains 
of a former garden. 

A little further, on the opposite side of the river, is a Willow, 
not very common,—the Sweet Bay-leaved Willow (Salix pen- 
tandra), producing its blossoms in June or July. Still further, 
on the other side of the river, and nearly opposite to the Lover s 
Leap, is a beautiful shrub, the Bird Cherry (Prunus padus), 
putting out its elegant spray of white blossoms in May. The 
ground beneath is covered with bright blue patches of the Great 
Water Scorpion-grass (Myosotis palustris), flowering from 




206 


BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


June till August, and the White Wood Anemone (Anemone 
nemorosa), which flowers in April and May. 

At the Lover’s Leap, following the bed of the little stream 
which runs between high rocks, there will be found, in May and 
June, a great quantity of Broad-leaved Garlick (Allium 
ursinum), and at the upper end of the rocky bed of the rivulet, 
it is overhung by a beautiful deep pink Rose (Rosa villosa). 
This rose grows also in many places on the opposite bank of the 
river Wye, together with the Common Dog Rose (Rosa canina), 
and the White Trailing Dog Rose (Rosa arvensis). 

In all the plantations, on each side of the road, may be found 
the Wild Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). 

Passing the Lover’s Leap, on the rocks on the right hand, is a 
plant not found in any other place in England, except near 
Malliam Cove in Yorkshire, the Blue Jacob’s-ladder, or Greek 
Valerian (Polemonium caeruleum), flowering in June. Other 
plants on the side of the road are common everywhere. Smooth 
Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), Germander Speedwell (Vero¬ 
nica chamaedrys), Procumbent Speedwell (Veronica agrestis), 
Wall Speedwell (Veronica arvensis), Ivy-leaved Speedwell 
(Veronica hederifolia), all flowering from April till June, or 
even later. The Round-leaved Bell-flower (Campanula rotundi- 
folia), flowering in July and August. The Field Scabious 
(Scabiosa arvensis), flowering in July. Small Scabious (Sca- 
biosa columbaria), which is much more rare than the former, 
and flowers from June till August. Cuckoo-flower (Cardamine 
pratensis) flowers in April and May. Herb Robert, or Stinking 
Crane’s-bill (Geranium Robertianum), Shining Crane’s-bill 
(Geranium lucidum), Dove’s-fbot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle), 
all flowering from May to August. Near the river, the Butter¬ 
bur (Tussilago petasites) grows in profusion, producing larger 
leaves than any indigenous plant in Great Britain. 

Beyond the mill, on the left hand of the road, the bridge leads 
to a bushy bank of small extent, skirting a foot-path leading to 
Fairfield ; on which bank, besides the Prunus spinosa (Black¬ 
thorn, or Sloe), flowering in April or May, the Raspberry 



BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


207 


(Rubus idaeus), Common Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), also 
flowering in April or May ; the Dog’s Yiolet (Viola canina), 
and Common Cowslip (Primula veris), and some rarer plants are 
to be found. Here are the Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridis), 
flowering in April or May ; Clustered Bell-flower (Campanula 
glomerata), Bloody Crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum), flower¬ 
ing from July to September; Hairy Yiolet (Yiola hirta), 
flowering in April ; Common Dwarf Cistus (Cistus helianthe- 
mum), and Hairy St. John’s-wort (Hypericum hirsutum), both 
flowering in July and August. Bushes of a very beautiful deep 
pink or red Rose (Rosa tomentosa), also grow on this bank. 
Close to the river, a little farther on the opposite side, is the 
Common Dame’s Yiolet (Hesperis matronalis), flowering in May 
and June. 

Between the bridge and the turnpike, are found on the rocks, 
on the right hand—as also in many of the pastures—the Grass 
of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris), flowering in September and 
October ; Ivy-leaved Wall Lettuce (Prenanthes muralis), 
flowering in July ; Common Wall Cress (Arabis Thaliana), 
flowering in April ; Hairy Wall Cress (Arabis hirsuta), flower¬ 
ing in May. The Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans) used 
to grow on this bank ; but in taking materials for repairing 
the road, it seems to have been destroyed : it grows in the end of 
Millar’s Dale, and in Dove Dale. 

Beyond the turnpike, in the wet ground on the left hand, 
are the Common Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), flowering 
in March and April; Common Water Cress (Nasturtium offi¬ 
cinale), flowering in June and July ; and by the road side, chiefly 
on the inner side of the wall, is the Blue Meadow Crane’s-bill 
(Geranium pratense), flowering in June and July. Still farther, 
past the bend of the road, are Small Marsh Yalerian (Yaleriana 
dioica), flowering in June ; Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris), 
flowering in July; Great Hairy Willow-herb (Epilobium hir- 
sutum), flowering in July. This last plant grows on the bank 
dividing the fish-pond from a small branch of the river, mixed 
with large patches of Blue Scorpion-grass, the Common Cow 





208 


BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


Parsnep (Heracleum sphondylium), flowering in July. Oil 
the right hand of the road, before reaching this bend of the 
road, are the Small-flowered Hoary Willow-herb (Epilobium 
parviflorum), flowering in July; Brook-lime (Veronica Becca- 
bunga), Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), and 
Silver-weed, or Wild Tansy (Potentilla anserina), all flowering 
from May to July. 

On approaching the third milestone from Buxton, the lime¬ 
stone is interrupted by toadstone, and as far as this extends, a 
beautiful little plant grows in the crevices of the stones, the 
Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), flowering in May 
and June. In many parts of the river grows the White Floating 
Crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis), showing its white flowers in 
May. On the rocks on the right hand, going up the hill called 
Topley Pike, grows a sweet-scented plant, the Common Kidney 
Vetch, or Ladies’-finger (Anthyllis vulneraria), flowering in 
June and July; and higher up on those rocks, the Stone 
Bramble (Rubus saxatile), flowering in June. In the valley 
below the road, on rocks close to the river, there are a few 
plants of the White Beam-tree (Pyrus Aria), flowering in May. 
The Giant Bell-flower (Campanula latifolia) grows near the road, 
going on to Ashford. 

The plants to be found near Buxton, further from the public 
road, are the Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), growing on 
rocks in a dale near the bottom of Topley Pike, flowering in 
May and June ; where may also be found the Common Buck¬ 
thorn (Rhamnus catharticus), flowering in May and June also. 
And in a dale leading to Chelmorton, the Burnet-leaved Rose 
(Rosa spinosissima) grows amongst the loose stones on the 
side of a hill. 

Amongst the rocks and shrubs in other places, are two plants 
which used to be considered doubtful natives of Britain ; the 
Cinnamon Rose (Rosa cinnamomea), and the Mountain Globe¬ 
flower (Trollius europseus), both flowering in May and June. 
Other more common plants are to be found in almost every 
meadow and road side. Such are the Common Corn Salad, or 


BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


209 


Lamb’s Lettuce (Fedia olitoria), flowering from April to June ; 
Devil’s-bit Scabious (Scabiosa succisa), flowering from August 
to October ; Cross-wort Bed-straw (Galium cruciatum), flower¬ 
ing in May; Smooth Heath Bed-straw (Galium saxatile), 
flowering from June to August; Yellow Bed-straw (Galium 
verum), flowering in July and August; Cleavers, or Goose- 
grass (Galium Aparine), flowering all the summer ; Greater 
Plantain (Plantago major), Hoary Plantain (Plantago media), 
having a very pleasant scent, and flowering from June to 
August; Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), flowering in 
June and July; Common Wall Pellitory (Parietaria offici¬ 
nalis), flowering from June till September; Common Ladies’- 
mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris), flowering from June to August; 
Field Ladies’-mantle, or Parsley Piert (Alchemilla arvensis), 
flowering from May to October; Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina 
procumbens), flowering from May till October ; Annual Small- 
flowered Pearlwort (Sagina apetala), flowering in May or June. 

Common Primrose (Primula vulgaris), flowering in April; 
Autumnal Gentian (Gentiana amarella), flowering in August; 
Perennial Blue Flax (Linum perenne), flowering in June and 
July ; Mill Mountain (Linum catharticum), flowering from June 
to August; Smooth Cow Parsley (Chserophyllum sylvestre), 
flowering in May ; Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata), flowering in 
May, not very common ; Common Earth, or Pig-nut (Bunium 
flexuosum), flowering in May or June ; Common Gout-weed 
(HCgopodium podagraria), flowering in June ; Sheep’s Sorrel 
(Eumex acetosella), flowering in June and July; Broad Smooth¬ 
leaved Willow-herb (Epilobium montanum), flowering in July ; 
Bilberry, or Black Whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), flower¬ 
ing in May; Common Ling (Callunavulgaris), flowering in June 
and July; Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), flowering in 
July and August ; Fine-leaved Heath (Erica cinerea), flowering 
from July to October; White Meadow Saxifrage (Saxifraga 
granulata), flowering in June ; Bue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga 
tridactylites), flowering in May; Mossy Saxifrage, or Ladies - 
cushion (Saxifraga hypnoides), flowering in J une ; Common 





210 BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 

Chickweed, or Stitchwort (Stellaria media), flowering all the 
year ; Vernal Sandwort (Arenaria verna), flowering from May 
to August; Orpine, or Livelong (Sedum telepkium), flowering 
in August; Biting Stonecrop, or Wall Pepper (Sedum acre), 
flowering in June ; Common Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), 
flowering in April and May ; Corn Cockle (Agrostemma 
githago), flowering in June and July; Meadow Lychnis, or 
Bagged Bobin (Lychnis Flos cuculi), flowering in June ; Bed 
Campion (Lychnis dioica), flowering in May and June ; Com¬ 
mon Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), flowering in July; 
Meadow-sweet (Spiraea ulmaria), flowering in June and July; 
Spring Cinquefoil (Potentilla verna), flowering in April and 
May ; Strawberry-leaved Cinquefoil (Potentilla fragariastrum), 
flowering in April ; Water Avens (Geum rivale), flowering in 
June and July ; Dwarf Cistus (Cistus helianthemum), flowering 
in July and August; Lesser Celandine (Banunculus ficaria), 
flowering in April; Bulbous Crowfoot (Banunculus bulbosus), 
flowering in May ; Creeping Crowfoot (Banunculus repens), 
flowering from Juue to August; Common Bugle (Ajuga reptans), 
flowering in May; Common Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), 
flowering in April and May ; Bed Dead-nettle, or Archangel 
(Lamium purpureum), flowering in May ; Common Marjoram 
(Origanum vulgare), flowering in July and August; Wild Thyme 
(Thymus serpyllum), flowering in July and August; Common 
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), flowering in July and August; Com¬ 
mon Yellow Battle (Bhinanthus cristagalli), flowering in June ; 
Common Eye-bright (Euphrasia officinalis), flowering from June 
to September ; Knotty-rooted Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa), 
flowering in July ; Purple Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), 
flowering in June and July ; Common Whitlow-grass (Draba 
verna), flowering in March and April ; Speedwell-leaved 
Whitlow-grass (Draba muralis), flowering in April and 
May ; this is considered rather a rare plant. Bock Hutch- 
insia (Hutchinsia petrsea), flowering in April ; Common 
Shepherd’s-purse (Thlaspi bursa pastoris), flowering all the 
summer ; Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), flowers in 


BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


211 


June and July, in a variety of colours—blue, white, and lilac. 
Common Furze, or Gorse (Ulex europseus), flowering in May; 
Common Bitter Vetch (Orobus tuberosus), flowering in May 
and June; Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca), flowering in July and 
August; Lesser Yellow Trefoil (Trifolium minus), flowering in 
June and July ; Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus cornicula- 
tus), flowering from June to September ; Greater Bird’s-foot 
Trefoil (Lotus major), flowering in July ; Common Perforated 
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum), and Imperforate St. 
John’s-wort (Hypericum dubium), both flowering in July and 
August; Hairy St. John’s-wort, (Hypericum hirsutum), flowering 
in June and July; Yellow Goat’s-beard (Tragopogon pratensis), 
flowering in June ; Corn Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis), flower¬ 
ing in August ; Bough Hawk-bit (Apargia hispida), flowering in 
July; Common Mouse-ear Hawk-weed (Hieracium pilosella), 
flowering in June ; Musk Thistle, (Carduus nutans), flowering 
in July and August; Spear Plume Thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus), 
flowering from June to September; Marsh Plume Thistle 
(Cnicus palustris), flowering in July and August; Meadow 
Plume Thistle (Cnicus pratensis), flowering in June ; Woolly¬ 
headed Plume Thistle (Cnicus eriophorus), flowering in August; 
Colt’s-foot (Tussilago farfara), flowering in March and April; 
Common Bagwort (Senecio Jacobsea), flowering in July and 
August ; Moon Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), flower¬ 
ing in July; Common Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium), 
flowering in July ; Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), flower¬ 
ing from June to August; Greater Knapweed (Centaurea sca- 
biosa), flowering in July and August; Common Salad Burnet 
(Poterium sanguisorba), flowering in July; Perennial Mercury 
(Mercurialis perennis), flowering in April and May ; Bough 
Hawk’s-beard (Crepis biennis), flowering in July; Spotted 
Cat’s-ear (Hypochseris maculata), flowering in July. 

On Axe Edge are found,—besides the three common heaths 
(Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, and Erica cinerea),—the Black 
Crowberry, or Crakeberry (Empetrum nigrum), a plant in ap¬ 
pearance very like a heath, but of a very different class, as it bears 



212 


BOTANICAL COMMENTARY. 


the blossoms and the fruit on separate plants ; the former appear¬ 
ing in May, and the latter, which is a black berry, like a small 
black currant, ripe about August. It is said, that in former 
times a sort of wine was made from this fruit in Iceland and 
Norway. The Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) grows there in 
abundance, and also the Cowberry, or Whortleberry (Vacci¬ 
nium vitis idaea), flowering in June, bearing a red berry. 
Cranberry, or Marsh Whortleberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), 
flowering in June ; the fruit of which is, in an early state, pale 
coloured with red spots—but when fully ripe of a deep red. 
The Mountain Bramble, or Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus), 
which in June bears one very elegant white flower, on a slender 
stalk ; the fruit resembles a small white raspberry. The Wild 
Rosemary, or Marsh Andromeda (Andromeda polifolia), flower¬ 
ing in June. 

The plants of the Orchis tribe, near Buxton, are the Early 
Purple Orchis (Orchis mascula), flowering in April and May; 
Spotted Palmate Orchis (Orchis maculata), flowering in June 
and July ; Aromatic Palmate Orchis (Orchis conopsea), flower¬ 
ing in June ; Frog Orchis (Orchis viridis), on the high ground 
above the stables at Buxton, and flowering in June and July ; 
Green Man Orchis (Aceras anthropophera), flowering in June ; 
Common Twayblade (Listera ovata), flowering in June. 

Plants of the Fern tribe immediately near Buxton, are the 
Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) ; Rigid Three-branched 
Polypody (Polypodium calcareum) ; Male Shield Fern (Aspidium 
filix mas), Broad Sharp-toothed Shield Fern (Aspidium dilata- 
tum) ; Female Shield Fern (Aspidium filix foemina) ; Brittle 
Bladder Fern (Cyathea fragilis) ; Common Maiden-hair Spleen- 
wort (Asplenium trichomanes) ; Green Maiden-hair Spleen wort 
(Asplenium viride), much more rare than the Common Spleen- 
wort ; Wall Rue Spleenwort (Asplenium ruta muraria) ; 
Common Hart’s-tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare) ; Northern 
Hard Fern (Blechnum boreale) ; Common Ovate Adder’s- 
tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). Common Moon - wort 
(Botrychium lunaria) is said to grow near Corbar wood. 








CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


213 


The Common Brake (Pteris aquilina) grows in abundance 
near Asliford, and in the grounds at Chats worth. 

Classification of Plants, which grow in the Neighbourhood of 
Buxton ; and most of which grow within the district immediately 
around the Town :— 


Diandria- 

Ligustrum vulgare 
Fraxinus excelsior . . . 

Veronica serpyllifolia 

„ Beccabunga . . 

„ anagallis 

„ officinalis . . . 

„ chamsedrys 

„ agrestis . . . 

„ arvensis . 

„ hederifolia . . 

Pinguicula vulgaris 

Triandria. 

Valeriana dioica 

Fedia olitoria . . . . 

Tetrandria.- 

Scabiosa succisa 

„ arvensis . 

„ columbaria . 

Galium cruciatum . 

„ saxatile 
„ pusillum . 

„ verum . 

„ Aparine 
Plantago major . 

„ media 

Sanguisorba officinalis 
Cornus sanguinea . 

Parietaria officinalis . 


-Monogynia. * 

Common Privet. 

Common Ash. 

Smooth Speedwell. 
Brook-lime. 

Water Speedwell. 

Common Speedwell. 
Germander Speedwell. 
Procumbent Field Speedwell. 
Wall Speedwell. 

Ivy-leaved Speedwell. 
Common Butterwort. 

—Monogynia. 

Marsh Valerian. 

Common Lamb’s Lettuce. 

—Monogynia. 

Devil’s-bit Scabious. 

Field Scabious. 

Small Scabious. 

Cross-wort Bedstraw. 
Smooth Heath Bedstraw. 
Least Mountain Bedstraw. 
Yellow Bedstraw. 
Goose-grass. 

Greater Plantain. 

Hoary Plantain. 

Great Burnet. 

Wild Cornet-tree. 

Wall Pellitory. 





















214 


CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS 


Alchemilla vulgaris 
,, arvensis 


Common Ladies’-mantle. 
Field Ladies’-mantle. 


Tetrandria. — Tetragynia. 

Sagina procumbens . . Procumbent Pearlwort. 

„ apetala . . . . Small-flowered Pearlwort. 


Pentandria. 
Myosotis palustris . 

„ sylvatica . . . 

Cynoglossum officinale . 
Symphytum officinale . . 

Primula veris 

„ vulgaris . . . 

Polemonium cseruleum . 
Campanula rotundifolia . . 

„ latifolia 

„ Trachelium . . 

„ glomerata 

Viola hirta . . . . 

„ canina .... 

^ lutea . . . . 

Rhamnus catharticus 
Eibes rubrum . . . . 

„ alpinum 

„ nigrum . . . . 

„ grossularia . 

Hedera helix . . . . 


— Monogynia . 

Water Scorpion-grass. 

Upright Wood Scorpion-grass. 
Common Hound’s-tongue. 
Common Comfrey. 

Common Cowslip. 

Common Primrose. 

Greek Valerian. 

Round-leaved Bell-flower. 
Giant Bell-flower. 
Nettle-leaved Bell-flower. 
Clustered Bell-flower. 

Hairy Violet. 

Dog’s Violet. 

Yellow Mountain Violet. 
Common Buckthorn. 

Common Currant. 

Tasteless Mountain Currant. 
Black Currant. 

Common Gooseberry. 

Common Ivy. 


Pentandria.—D igynia. 

Chenopodium Bonus Henricus Mercury Goose-foot. 


Gentiana amarella . 

„ campestris . 
Chserophyllum sylvestre 
Myrrhis odorata 
Bunium flexuosum 
.ZEgopodium podagraria 


. Autumnal Gentian. 

. Field Gentian. 

. Wild Chervil. 

. Sweet Cicely. 

. Common Earth-nut. 

. Common Gout-weed. 






CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


21 


Angelica sylvestris . . Wild Angelica. 

Heracleum sphondylium . . Common Cow Parsnep. 

Pimpinella magna . . . Greater Burnet Saxifrage. 


Pentandria. — Tetragynia. 

Parnassia palustris . . . Common Grass of Parnassus. 

Linum perenne . . . Perennial Blue Flax. 

„ catkarticum . . . Mill Mountain. 

Hexandria.—Mon ogynia. 

Allium ursinum . . . Broad-leaved Garlick. 

„ vineale . . . Crow Garlick. 

Juncus lampocarpus . . Shining Jointed Bush. 

Hexandria. — Trigynia. 

Bumex sanguineus . . . Bloody-veined Dock. 

„ acetosa . . . Common Sorrel. 

„ acetosella . . . Sheep’s Sorrel. 


Octandria.- 

Epilobium hirsutum 

„ angustifolium . . 

„ parviflorum . 

„ montanum . . 

Vaccinium myrtillus 

„ vitis idsea . . 

„ oxycoccus 

Calluna vulgaris . . . 

Erica tetralix 

„ cinerea . . . . 


— Monogynia. 

Hairy Willow-herb. 
Bose-bay Willow-herb. 
Small Willow-herb. 

Broad Smooth Willow-herb. 
Bilberry. 

Bed Whortleberry. 
Cranberry. 

Common Ling. 

Cross-leaved Heath. 
Fine-leaved Heath. 


Octandria. — Tetragynia. 

Paris quadrifolia . . . Common Herb Paris. 


Decandria. — Monogynia. 

Andromeda polifolia . . . Marsh Andromeda. 









216 


CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


Decandria. — Digynia. 

Chrysoplenium alternifolium . Alternate-leaved Golden Saxi 

frage. 

„ oppositifolium Opposite-leaved Golden Saxi 

frage. 

Saxifraga granulata . . Meadow Saxifrage. 

„ tridactylites . . Rue-leaved Saxifrage. 

„ hypnoides . . Mossy Saxifrage. 

Decandria. — Trigynia. 

Silene nutans . . . . Nottingham Catclifly. 

Stellaria media . . . Common Chickweed. 

Arenaria verna . . . . Vernal Sandwort. 


Decandria. — Pentagynia. 


Sedum Telephium . 

„ acre 
Oxalis acetosella 
Lychnis flos cuculi 
„ dioica 

Cerastium vulgatum . 
Spergula nodosa 


Orpine Livelong. 

Biting Stonecrop. 
Common Wood-sorrel. 
Meadow Lychnis. 

Red or White Campion. 
Mouse-ear Chickweed. 
Knotted Spurrey. 


Dodecandria. — Dodecagynia. 
Sempervivum tectorum . . Houseleek. 


Icosandria. — Monogynia. 

Prunus padus . , . Bird-cherry. 

„ spinosa . . . . Sloe Blackthorn. 


Icosandria. — Di-Pentagynia. 


Mespilus oxyacantha 
Pyrus aucuparia 
„ Aria 

Spiraea filipendula 
„ ulmaria 


Hawthorn. 
Mountain Ash. 
White Beam-tree. 
Common Dropwort. 
Meadow-sweet. 



CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


21 


leosandria. — Polygynia. 


Rosa cinnamomea 
„ spinosissima . 

„ villosa 
„ canina . 

„ arvensis 
Rubus fruticosus . 

„ idaeus 
„ eorylifolius . 

„ saxatilis . 

„ chamaemorus 
Potentilla anserina . 

„ verna 

„ fragariastrum . 

Geum urbanum 
„ rivale 


. Cinnamon Rose. 

. Burnet Rose. 

. Soft-leaved Rose. 

. Common Dog Rose. 

. White-trailing Rose. 

. Blackberry. 

. Raspberry. 

. Hazel-leaved Bramble. 

. Stone Bramble. 

. Cloudberry. 

. Silver-weed. 

. Spring Cinque-foil. 

. Strawberry-leaved ditto. 
. Common Avens. 

. Water Avens. " 


Polyandria. — Monogynia. 

Cistus helianthemum . . Common Cistus. 

v 

Polyandria. — Pentagynia. 

Aquilegia vulgaris . . . Columbine. 


Polyandria. — Polygynia. 


Anemone nemorosa 
Ranunculus ficaria 
„ bulbosus 
„ repens 

Trollius europseus . 
Helleborus viridis 
„ foetidus 

Caltha palustris 


Wood Anemone. 
Crowfoot. 

Bulbous Crowfoot. 
Creeping Crowfoot. 
Mountain Globe-flower. 
Green Hellebore. 
Stinking Hellebore. 
Marsh Marigold. 


L 












218 


CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


Didynamia. — Gymnospermia. 


Ajuga reptans 
Gleckoma hederacea . 
Lamium purpureum 
Origanum vulgare 
Thymus serpyllum 
„ acinos . 
Prunella vulgaris . 


Common Bugle. 
Ground Ivy. 

Bed Dead Nettle. 
Common Marjoram. 
Common Thyme. 
Basil Thyme. 
Self-heal. 


Didynamia.—A ngiospermia. 


Rhinanthus cristagalli . . Yellow Rattle. 

Euphrasia officinalis . . Eyebright. 

Scrophularia nodosa . . . Knotty Figwort. 

Digitalis purpurea . . Purple Foxglove. 


Tetradynamia. — Siliculosa. 


Draba verna 
„ incana 
„ muralis . 
Hutckinsia petrsea 
Thlaspi bursa pastoris 


Common Whitlow-grass. 
Twisted Podded Whitlow-grass. 
Speedwell-leaved Whitlow-grass. 
Rock Hutchinsia. 

Shepherd’s Purse. 


Tetradynamia. — Siliquosa. 


Cardamine impatiens 
, pratensis . 
Nasturtium officinale 
Hesperis matronalis . 
Arabis thaliana 
„ hirsuta . 


Ladies’ Smock. 
Cuckoo-flower. 
Water-cress. 
Dame’s Violet. 
Wall-cress. 

Hairy Wall-cress. 


Monodelphia. — Decandria. 

Geranium pratense . . Blue Crane’s-bill. 

„ Robertianum . . Herb Robert. 



CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


219 


Geranium lucidum . . Shining Crane’s-bill. 

„ molle . . . Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill. 

„ sanguineum . . Bloody Crane’s-bill. 

Diadelphia. — Octandria. 

Polygala vulgaris . . . Common Milkwort. 

/ 

Diadelphia. — Decandria. 

Ulex europaeus . . . Common Furze. 

Anthyllis vulneraria . . . Kidney Vetch. 

Orobus tuberosus . . . Common Bitter Vetch. 

Vicia sylvatica . . . . Wood Vetch. 

„ cracca .... Tufted Vetch. 

Hippocrepis comosa . . . Horse-shoe Vetch. 

Trifolium minus . . . Lesser Yellow Trefoil. 

Lotus corniculatus . . . Bird’s-foot Trefoil. 

„ major .... Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil. 


Polydelphia. 

Hypericum perforatum 
„ dubium 

„ montanum 

„ hirsutum 

Syngenesia. 

Tragopogon pratensis 
Picris hieracioides . 

Sonchus arvensis 
Prenanthes muralis 
Leontodon taraxacum 
Apargia hispida 
Hieracium pilosella . 

„ murorum 

„ umbellatum 

Serratula tinctoria 


— Polyandria. 

Perforated St. John’s-wort. 
Imperforated St. John’s-wort. 
Mountain St. John’s-wort. 
Hairy St. John’s-wort. 


—Polygamia cequalis. 

. . Yellow Goat’s-beard. 

. Hawkweed Ox-tongue. 

. . Corn Sow-thistle. 

. Ivy-leaved Wall Lettuce. 

. Dandelion. 

. Bough Hawkbit. 

. Mouse-ear Hawkweed. 

. Broad-leaved Wall Hawkweed. 
. Narrow-leaved Hawkweed. 

. Common Saw-wort. 


220 


CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


Carduus nutans . 

„ acanthoides 
Cnicus lanceolatus 
„ palustris 
„ eriophorus 
„ heteropliyllus 
Carlina vulgaris 
Eupatorium cannabinum 


Musk Thistle. 

Welted Thistle. 

Spear Plume Thistle. 

Marsh Plume Thistle. 
Woolly-headed Plume Thistle. 
Melancholy Plume Thistle. 
Carline Thistle. 

Hemp Agrimony. 


Syngenesia.—Polygamia superflua. 

Tussilago farfara . . . Colt’sfoot. 

„ petasites. . . Butter-bur. 

Senecio vulgaris . . . Common Groundsel. 

„ Jacobsea . . ... Common Ragwort. 

„ tenuifolius . . . Hoary Ragwort. 

Solidago virgaurea . . Common Golden Rod. 

Beilis perennis . . . . Common Daisy. 

Chrysanthemum leucanthe- ) 

> Ox-eye Daisy, 
mum. ) J J 

Achillea millifolium . . . Milfoil. 


Syngenesia.—Polygamia frusiranea . 

Centaurea nigra . . . Black Knapweed. 

„ scabiosa . . . Greater Knapweed. 


Gynandria .— Monandria. 


Orchis bifolia 

„ pyramidalis 
„ mascula 
„ viridis 
„ maculata 
„ conopsea 
Aceras anthropophera 
Listera ovata 


Butterfly Orchis. 
Pyramidal Orchis. 

Early Purple Orchis. 

Prog Orchis. 

Spotted Palmate Orchis. 
Aromatic Palmate Orchis. 
Green Man Orchis, 
Common Twayblade. 












CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANT'S. 


221 


Monoecia. — Tetrandria . 

Urtica dioica .... Great Nettle. 

Monoecia. — Pentandria. 

Bryonia dioica . . . . Red-berried Bryony. 

Monoecia. — Polyanclria. 

Arum maculatum . . . Cuckow Pint. 

Poterium sanguisorba . . Salad Burnet. 

Corylus Avellana . . . Common hazel-nut. 

Dioecia. — Diandria . 

Salix pentandra . . . . Bay-leaved Willow. 

„ caprea .... Round-leaved Willow. 

„ alba . . . . . Common White Willow. 


Dioecia. — Triandria. 

Empetrum nigrum . . Black Crowberry. 

Dioecia. — Enneandria. 

Mercurialis perennis . . . Perennial Mercuiy. 


Taxus baccata 


Dioecia.—Mo nadelphia. 

. . . Common Yew. 


Ferns. 

Cryptogamia. — Filices. 


Polypodium vulgare . 

„ calcareum 
Aspidium Filix mas . 

aculeatum 
lobatum 
dilatatum 
Filix fcemina 


» 




Common Polypody. 

Rigid three-branched Polypody. 
Male Shield Fern. 

Prickly Shield Fern. 
Close-leaved Prickly Shield Fern. 
Sharp-toothed Shield Fern. 
Female Shield Fern. 

l 2 




222 


CLASSIFIED LIST OF PLANTS. 


Cystea fragilis 
„ dentata 

Asplenium Trichomanes 

„ viride . . . 

„ ruta muraria 

„ Adiantum nigrum 

Scolopendrium vulgare . 
Blechnum boreale . . . 

Pterisaquilina 

Botrychium lunaria . . . 

Opliioglossum vulgatum 
Equisetum limosum . . . 


Brittle Bladder Fern. 

Toothed Bladder Fern. 
Spleenwort. 

Green Maiden-hair Spleenwort. 
Wall-tree Spleenwort. 

Black Maiden-hair Spleenwort. 
Common Hart’s-tongue. 
Northern Hard Ferns. 

Common Brakes. 

Moonwort. 

Adder’s-tongue. 

Smooth Naked Horsetail. 






DIRECTORY, Ac. 


DISTANCES—ROUTES—NEAREST RAILWAY STATIONS—COACHES— 
HORSES AND CARRIAGES FOR HIRE—MAGISTRATES, CLERGY¬ 
MEN, AND MINISTERS—-LIST OF HOTELS, INNS AND LODGING 
HOUSES, ETC., ETC. 

Buxton is 159 miles from London, 38 miles from Derby, 22 miles 
from Matlock Bath, 12 miles from Bakewell, 26 miles from Shef¬ 
field, 23 miles from Chesterfield, 15 miles from Cliatswortli, 15 
miles from the Rowsley Railway Station, 10 miles from Castleton, 
6 miles from Chapcl-en-le-Frith, 24 miles from Manchester, 17 
miles from Stockport, 11 miles from Disley, 6 miles from the 
Whaley Bridge Railway Station, 12 miles from Macclesfield, 18 
miles from the Chelford Railway Station, 12 miles from Leek, and 
20 miles from Ashbourne. Whaley Bridge on the north, Rowsley 
on the east, and Macclesfield on the west are still the nearest points 
at which completed lines of railway facilitate the access to Buxton. 
The railway which is thus far only finished and opened as far as 
Rowsley, joins the main-trunk of the Midland Railway at Amber- 
gate, having passed through Matlock and Darley Dale. This is 
commonly found to be the most convenient route to Buxton from 
the south, south-west, and south-east,—or from London, Northamp¬ 
ton, Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham, Worcester, Cheltenham, &c. 
This is commonly the more convenient route likewise from the 
Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Nottingham districts. From South 
Wales, Shropshire, and the Potteries,—from Liverpool and Man- 



224 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


Chester, and from all parts of Lancashire, Cheshire, Westmorland, 
Cumberland, and the West of Scotland,—the more convenient 
railway terminus from Buxton is Whaley Bridge. It is to be hoped 
that shortly the railway extensions, now in active progress, from 
Whaley Bridge on the one side, and from Rowsley on the other’ 
will be completed. 

As to post-horses, and closed and open carriages, drawn by one 
or two horses, mule-carriages, donkey-carriages, and bath chairs, 
there is every variety for hire, by the day, hour, or mile, according 
to will. 


MAGISTRATES. 

E. W. Wilmot, Esq.; Agent to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire; 
Treasurer to the Devonshire Hospital; Chairman of the Local 
Board, the Gas Company, &c., &c. Offices, behind the 
Crescent; residence, Wye Head. 

E. Buckley, Esq., Manchester. 

S. Grimshawe, Esq., Errwood Hall. 

Benjamin Badger, Esq., 5, The Crescent. 

R. Darwin, Esq., The Ferns. 

Dr. Slack and J. Slack, Esq., Chapel-en-le-frith. 


CLERGYMEN. 

Right Rev. Lord Bishop Spencer, late Bishop of Madrass; Edge 
Moor. 

Rev. Edward Weigall, incumbent, The Park. 

Rev. Thomas Wilson, curate, Devonshire Hospital. 

Rev. Charles Smith, incumbent of Fairfield. 

Rev. A. Spencer, incumbent of Burbage. 

Rev. T, H. Bridges, curate ,, 












DIRECTORY, ETC. 


225 


MINISTERS. 

Wesleyan Chapel, Eagle Parade.—Rev. T. M. Fitzgerald, 75, 
Spring gardens ; Rev. J. Emberton, Chapel-en-le-frith. 
Congregational Clmrcli, Hardwick Street.—Rev. T. G. Potter, 
Clifton Bank, Fairfield. 

Roman Catholic Chapel, Terrace Road.—Rev. E. Macgreevy, 10, 
West Street. 

Unitarian Chapel, top of Hall Bank,-—Only open during the season. 


THE CRESCENT. 

No. 

1 Mr. William Hicklin, private lodging house. 

2 „ John Smilter, post-office, and private lodging 

house. 

3 Miss Gregory, private lodging house. 

4 Messrs. S. Bright, and Co., silversmiths, and 

jewellers. 

5 Miss M. A. Bates, private lodging house. 

6 Mrs. Harrison, St. Anne’s Hotel. 

7 do do 

8 do do 

The Hall Hotel, Mr. Brian Bates. 

The George Hotel, Mr. William Lees. 

The Advertiser Office, Hot Bath Colonnade, John 
Cumming Bates. 

THE PARK. 

Devonshire Villas. 

No, 1 Mi3s Poulson, private lodging house. 

2 Misses Bates, private lodging house, school for 
young ladies. 

THE SQUARE, 

1 Mr. Joseph Whalley, shampooer, private lodging 

house, 

2 W. P. Shipton, Esq., M.jR.C.S. 

3 Miss Glazbrook, private lodging house. 

4 Mr. Joseph Broomhead, do 

5 „ W. E. Clayton, do 

G W. H. Kobertson, Esq., M.D. 

CAVENDISH VILLAS. 

1 Miss Chambers, private lodging house. 

2 Mr. Binns, artist, private lodging house. 

3 „ Chapelow, private lodging house* 






1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

q 

10 

l 

2 

3 

4 

5 

0 

7 

8 

1 

3 

5 

7 

9 

11 

13 

15 

17 

19 

21 

23 

25 

27 

29 

31 

33 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


HALL BANK. 

* 

Mr. James Turner, spar museum, private lodging 
house. 

Miss Clayton, private lodging house. 


Mr. Joseph Iloyle, do 

„ Joseph Clayton, do 

„ John Clayton, do 

Mrs. M. E. Bates, do 


J. B. Bradley, Esq., M.D. 

Mr. It. Iv. Bratt, private lodging house. 

„ Joseph Miller, sliampooer, private lodging 
house. 

„ J. Noel, spar museum, private lodgiug house, 

QUADRANT. 

Grove Cottage—Mr. S. Turner. 

J. A. Pearson, Esq., F.R.C.S. 

Mr. Acton, chemist, private lodging house. 

„ E. Webster, private lodging house. 

„ Thos. Woodruff, spar museum, private lodging 
house. 

„ John Vickers, builder, private lodging house. 

,, Bentley, photographer, private lodging house. 

„ Cregan, painter, private lodging house. 

„ Geo. Goodwin, private lodging house. 

SPRING GARDENS. 

[The odd numbers on the left, the even numbers on the 
right hand side of the street, from the Crescent.] 

Miss Wood, Grove Hotel. 

Mr. B. Bates, Royal Hotel. 

„ Milligan, draper, private lodging house. 

„ Robins, bookseller &e. 

„ Thos. Flint, draper. 

„ Thos. Dineley, boot and shoe maker, private 
lodging house. 

,, Thos. Webster, spar museum, private lodging 
house. 

,, W.D. Sutton,Herald Office,privatelodginghouse 
Miss Sanders, private lodging house. 

Mr. Robt. Sumner, boot and shoe maker. 

Mrs. Evans, spar museum, private lodgiug house. 
Mr. Francis Debiolel, grocer, private lodging house. 
„ George Brittain, draper. 

„ James Brown, private lodging house. 

„ Obadinh Hoyle, do 

,, R. R. Duke, builder. 

„ Dodd, draper, private lodging house. 






227 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


Spring Gardens , continued. 

35 Miss Swain. 

37 Mr. James Barrow, cabinet maker, private lodging 
house. 

39 Miss Tyson, boot and shoe warehouse. 

41 Mr. John Holmes, green grocer, &c. 

43 „ James Goddard, saddler. 

45 „ Barnard, wine and spirit merchant • 

47 „ Joseph Turner. 

49 Mrs. Sampson Pidcock, private lodging house. 


51 Mr. 0. Heathcote, do 

53 do do 

55 „ Anzani, do 

57 do bazaar. 

59 Mr. Hulley draper 

01 Mrs. Norton, private lodging house 

03 „ Gregory, do 

05 Mr. Charles Pidcock, do 

07 ,, Hambletoo, do 

09 Mrs. Cutts, do 

71 


73 Mr. Paynes, basket maker. 

75 Pev. T. M. Fitzgerald. 

77 Mrs. Fawdington. 

2 Mr. B. Bates, wine and spirit vaults. 

4 „ Wm. Lees, private lodging house. 

0 „ Hutchinson, chemist, private lodging house. 

8 Miss Langton and Mrs. Thompson, milliners, &c., 
private lodging house. 

10 Misses Flint, confectioners. 

12 do do 

14 Mr. J. Faulkner, hairdresser. 

10 Miss Johnson, manager at Ladies’ Natural Baths, 
private lodging house. 

18 Mr. Wardley. 

20 Sheffield and Rotherham Branch Bank. 

22 Mr. Gregory. 

24 Mrs. Francis, confectioner, &c. 

20 London and North Western Railway Booking Olfice. 
28 Mr. James Bradbury, Shakespere Hotel. 

30 The Midland Railway Booking Office. 

32 Misses Surtees & Mrs. Davids, private lodging house. 


34 Mr. .Tames Nall, do 

30 „ Robert Nall, do 

38 „ Mellor, butcher, do 

40 In course of erection. 

42 Mr. James Wheeldon, private lodging house. 

44 Mrs. Martin, do 

40 Mr. Barnsley, grocer. 


v 48 ,, Widdowson, private lodging house. 

50 „ Gibbons, lodging house. 


228 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


Spring Gardens, continued. 

52 Mr. Thomas Gregory, butcher. 

54 ,, Thomas Hicklin, plumber. 

50 „ Thomas Marshall, private lodging house. 

58 „ Gibbons, lodging house. 

00 „ Isaac Brunt, White Lion Inn. 

02 do do 

04 Mr. John Clayton, private lodging house. 

00 ,, S. Turner’s new house. 

HARDWICK STREET. 

[Odd numbers on the left, even numbers on the right 
from Spring Gardens.] 

1 Mr. Whitcomb, private lodging house. 

3 Mrs. Allen, do 

5 Miss Barlow. 

2 Mr. Joseph Thompson, private lodging house. 

4 R. Bennett, Esq., M.D. 

0 Mr. J. W. Potter, draper, private lodging house, 

8 Miss Cocker, private lodging house. 

10 Mr. Duke’s building plot. 

12 do do 

14 do do 

l(i Mr. Bagshaw Mycock, private lodging house. 

L0NGDEN COURT. 

1 Mr. George Gibbons. 4 Mr. Thos Wheeldon. 

2 „ J. Johnson. 5 „ T. Skidmore. 

3 


SYL VAN PARK. 

1 Mr. James Oldfield, private lodging house. 

2 Messrs. J. and J. W. Taylor, solicitors. 

3 Mr. Colbert, private lodging house 

TERRACE ROAD. 

1 Mr. John Lawson, private lodging house. 

2 ,, William Lees, do 

3 Messrs. Bramwell and Rose, ironmongers, &c. 

4 Mr. W. H. Flint, chemist. 

5 „ Samuel Bagshaw, shoemaker. 

0 

7 Mrs. Capt. White. 

8 Mr. Aaron Plant, shampooer, private lodging house. 

!) ,, Rowland, brazier, private lodging house. 

10 ,, Henry Bailey, do 





11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

1 

2 

3 

4 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

1 

2 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


229 


Terrace Road , continued. 

Mr. Janies Boam, manager of Gentlemen’s Natural 
Baths, private lodging house 


Miss Bentley, do 

Mr. Evans, do 

„ W. Clayton, do 
,, Hardy, do 

Miss Clayton, do 

Mrs. Williams, do 

Mr. Woodruff, joiner, do 
„ Henry Simpson, do 
„ James Goddard, do 
,, G. Turner, do 

„ Redfern. 


„ William Worral, mason. 

,, Roberts, tailor. 

Miss F. Ward. • 

Mr. Manners, New Inn. 

,, Rose, plumber, private lodging house. 

„ A. Furniss, hairdresser. 

„ George Hobson, grocer. 

BELMONT TERRACE. 

Mr. Robinson, private lodging house. 

Mrs. Readc, do 

Mr. Turnell, do 

Miss Eccles, do 

EAGLE PARADE. 

Mr. M. Jones, grocer, &c. 

„ Matthew Lees, poulterer, greengrocer, &c. 

,, Thackabery, school-bouse, private lodging house. 
„ W. Woodruff, painter, private lodging house. 
Miss Deakin, manager of the Ladies’ Hot Baths, 
fruiterer. 

Mr. S. Fidler, private lodging house. 

„ W. Wood, Eagle Hotel. 

The Town Hall. 

Local Board Oflice. 

Police Station. 

Mr. Rose’s workshop. 

„ Ball. 

,, George Smith, manager of Gentlemen’s Hot 
Baths, private lodging house. 

DUNMORE SQUARE. 

Mr. E. Webster, spar museum. 

,, John Pidcoclt, game dealer and greengrocer. 



230 


DIEECTOEY, ETC. 


Dunmore Square , continued,. 

3 „ Samuel Smith, shoemaker. 

4 „ Edward Webster, spar museum. 

5 

6 

7 „ James Rowland, brazier. 

8 Miss Ward, lodging house. 

1) Mr. John Swann, sadler. 

10 „ Thomas Evans. 

11 Mrs. Birch. 

12 do 

13 Mr. Slack, French polisher, &c. 


CONCERT PLACE. 

1 &r. Henry Clough. 

2 Workshop of Mr. Barrow, cabinet maker. 

3 „ Mr. Clayton, tailor. 

4 Mr. E. Bennett, lodging house. 

5 Workshop of Mr. W. Woodruff, joiner. 

0 Mr. Robert Deakin, painter, lodging house. 

7 „ James Clayton, grocer. 

8 „ Joseph Shirt, sen. 

9 „ C. Mitchell. 

10 „ W. Buxton. 

11 Workshop of Mr. Broomliead, plumber, &c. 

12 Mr. William Pidcock. 

13 ,, Robert Sumner. 

14 ,, John Ward, town crier. 

15 „ John White, butcher. 


MARKET STREET. 

1 Mr. Charles Clayton. 

3 


SOUTH STREET. 

1 Miss Mortin, Scarsdale Gardens, private lodsrin" 

house. 

2 Mr. Geo. Oldfield, mason, private lodging house. 

3 Mrs. Kirk, assistant at Ladies’ Hot Baths, lodgm* 

house. 

4 Mr. Edwin Hobson, lodging house. 

5 „ James Lomas, do 

G „ Samuel Johnson, do 

7 „ Charles Eyre. 

8 „ Austen Furniss. 

9 Mrs. Mycock. 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


231 


SCARSDALE PLACE. 


1 

Mr. William Yates, 

butcher. 

2 

33 

Joseph Clayton 

, tailor. 

3 

J) 

R. Street. 


4 

Mr. 

Fox, private lodging house, 

5 

)> 

Isaac Tyzack, 

do 

ft 



7 

J) 

W. Sutton, 

do 

8 

33 

F. Evans, 

do 

9 

)) 

Brocklehurst 

do 

10 

3> 

Dunn, 

do 

11 

>3 

Hulse, 

do 

12 

31 

Fletcher, 

do 

13 

13 

Wilson, 

do 

14 

33 

Platts, 

do 


HIGH STREET. 

[The odd numbers on the left, the even numbers on the 
right from Eagle Parade.] 

1 E. Duke, Esq., L.R.C.P.E. 

3 Mr. Blore, private lodging house. 

5 Miss Jones, do 

7 Mr. W. Spooner. 

0 „ W. Evans. 

11 Mr. Charles Raynor, grocer, &c. 

13 „ Mr. G. E. Allen, draper. 

15 do do 

17 ,, Fearn, agent for Barton’s Coal. 

19 „ Henshaw, baker. 

21 „ Littlewood. 

23 ,, Roberts, tailor, private lodging house. 

25 „ Joule, mason, do 

27 „ Matthew Hobson, grocer. 

29 ,, S. Fidler, sadler. 

31 „ T. Lees. 

33 „ Henshaw. 

35 ,, John Howard, Sun Inn. 

37 ,, John Pidcock, jun., grocer, &c. 

39 „ Thomas Fidler, grocer, private lodging house. 

41 Mrs. Sutton, Cheshire Cheese Inn. 

2 „ Worrall, private lodging house. 

4 Mr. Joseph Sutton, assistant at Gentlemen’s Natural 
Baths, private lodging house 
G Miss Noton do 

8 Mr. Oakes, do 

10 „ Hill, do 

12 „ George Hobson, Queen's Head Inn. 

14 „ Swinscow, private lodging house. 

10 ,, Brunt, do 

18 „ Street, do 



232 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


High Street, continue.I. 

20 Mr. Sutton, private lodging house. 

22 ,, Tyson, butcher. 

24 „ T. Lees, butcher. 

26 „ Claylon, private lodging house. 

28 Mr. Smith, Seven Stars Inn. 

80 ,, Thomas Robinson, lodging house. 

32 „ Mrs. Whalley, do 

34 „ Harrison, greengrocer. 

36 ,, T. Brunt, jun., lodging house. 

'38 ,, T. Brunt, sen., do 

40 „ King, Swan Inn. 

42 „ Solomon Mycock. 

44 „ R. Wildgoose, lodging house. 

46 „ Widdowson, do 

48 „ G. Taylor, do 

50 ,, Brunt, 

52 „ Eyre, do 

54 ,, Johnson, do 

56 „ George Kitchen, letter carrier, grocer, &c. 

58 „ Wheeldon, lodging house. 

GO ,, E. Lees, do 


ASH WOOD VIEW. 

Mr. James Boardman, joiner, lodging house. 
„ George Lees, greengrocer, do 

„ John Percival, joiner, do 


HOBSON’S COURT. 


1 Mrs. Fogg. 

2 

3 

4 Mr. James Boardman, joiner, lodging house. 

5 ,, George Lees, greengrocer, do 

6 ,, John Percival, joiner, do 

7 ,, Edmund Fearn. 

8 „ William Clayton, porter L. & N. W. R. 


TORR STREET. 

1 Mr. W. Oldfield. 

2 ,, Robert Brunt, 

3 Mrs. Wlieatcroft, Hyde Cottage, private lodging house 

school for young ladies. 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


233 


BATH STREET. 

1 Mr. Job Marshall, private lodgiug house. 

3 „ Chappell 
5 Mrs. Drabble. 

7 Mr. Jesse Downs, tailor. 

CHURCH STREET. 

[Left side odd, right side even numbers.] 

1 Mrs. M. A. Fuller, lodging house. 

3 Mr. Isaac Harrison, greengrocer. 

5 „ Samuel Needham. 

7 „ George Smith, jun., assistant at Gentlemen’s 

Hot Baths. 

2 „ J. Baguley, Wheat Sheaf Inn. 

4 Mrs. Darbysliire. 

0 Mr. William Wildgoose, lodging house. 

8 ,, William Smith, shoemaker. 

10 „ George Pheasey. 

12 ,, Robert Lomas, blacksmith. 

14 „ Samuel Kitchen, carpenter. 

16 „ Richard Littlewood. 

18 „ J. Robson, shoemaker. 

20 „ Thomas Ardern, butcher. 

22 Mrs. Brandreth, lodging house. 

24 „ Evans. 


WEST STREET. 

[Left side odd, right side even numbers from High Street. 

1 Mr. Samuel Smith, shoemaker, lodging house. 

3 „ W. Perkin, lodging house. 

5 „ Joshua Robinson, do 

7 „ Samuel Ward, do 

0 „ Jos. Fidler. 

11 „ Henry Robinson. 

13 „ Richard Littlewood, blacksmith. 

15 „ William Baines, painter. 

17 ,, John Evans. 

10 „ John Wild, lodging house. 

21 „ William Bennett. 

23 „ John and Gilbert Plant. 

25 ,, E. Yeomans. 

27 „ Samuel Wood. 

20 ,, George Buxton. 

31 The Misses Liddall, Hartington House, private 
lodging house, school for young ladies. 

33 Mr. Drake, grocer, lodging house. 

35 Mrs. Spooner. 

37 Mr. G. Needham. 

30 „ Thomas Brunt, joiner. 


234 


DIRECTORY, ETC. 


West Street , continued. 

41 „ Samuel Wilsliaw. 

43 „ John Brunt. 

45 „ Joseph Noel’s marble works. 

2 ,, William Norton, tailor, private lodging house. 

4 „ Bennett, private lodging house. 

6 „ Lee, mason, do 

8 „ It. Smith, do 

10 do do 

12 Mr. Bramhall, grocer, private lodging house. 

14 „ James Raynor, do 

10 

18 „ Cantrell, Baker’s Arm. 

20 „ Peter Newham, grocer, lodging house. 

22 „ Goit, gardener. 

24 ,, Thomas Wood. 


COTE 

Mr. James Pearson. 

,, Win. Deakin, lodging 
house. 

„ George Goodall. 

„ J. Ward, lodging house 
,, J. Carson. 

„ W. Wood. 

„ Perks. 

„ W. Ward, do 
,, James Ashmore. 

,, T. Wilshaw, lodging 
house. 

Mrs. Rebecca Hill. 

WYE 

Mr. Plant. 

,, T. Knight. 

Miss Nall, dress maker. 
Mr. 11. Chorlton, private 
lodging house. 

„ J. Brockleliurst, do 
„ J. Clowes, do 
„ R. Bagshaw. 


HEATH. 

Miss Jane Smith. 

»• Mr. Charles Hazledown. 

„ Thomas Fidler. 

" „ Thomas Gilman. 

. Mrs. Raynor. 

Mr. Thomas Mason. 

,, Abraham Philips, 
lodging house. 

,, Hutton. 

„ Thos. Swann, farmer,* 
corn and cheese fac¬ 
tor, &c. 


HEAD. 

Mr. John Ashmore. 

„ William Wreushaw. 
,, Philips. 

,, Johnson. 

,, James Ashmore. 

,, David Ward. 

„ John Bngsliaw. 

„ William Hill. 


.1. C. Bates, Printer, Hot Bath Colonnade, Buxton. 










WORKS BY DR. ROBERTSON, 

OF BUXTON, 


8 vo, cloth, price 10.<t. 6 d. 

THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF GOUT. 

-♦-- 


“ Dr. Robertson’s work is the most complete monograph on the subject of gout 
with which we are acquainted. . . . We think that he has not only succeeded in 
placing together, to the best advantage, the chemical facts illustrative of the 
pathology of gout, which have of late yeai’s been adduced, but also in giving a very 
complete and useful general history of the disease from his own observation. The 
work is evidently the result of considerable practical acquaintance with gout in 
its various forms. ”— Medical Gazette. 

“Replete with information, brought down to the latest period, and of a very 
practical character. . . It is difficult to specify any one part of the volume as 
more deserving attention than another, for all are ably done. . . . The scenes 
which he describes lie has evidently often witnessed. In the chapter on treatment, 
his observations on the use and abuses of different medicines, and their appropriate 
mode of administration, are valuable, and should be studied with great attention. ” 
—Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal. 

“This work is evidently the production of a physician practically acquainted 
with the subject on which he writes, and the result' of much experience and 
reflection. . . . The knowledge acquired during the last half-century is not lost 
sight of, and the light which modem chemistry and modem researches generally 
have thrown on various questions in physiology and pathology, is clearly traceable 
in the pages of Dr. Robertson’s work. . . . The ample means of observation 
which the author has evidently enjoyed and made use of, invests this portion of 
his subject (the history and treatment of gout) with an interest and authority 
which cannot fail to render it generally useful to those who ai-e less favourably 
situated. . . . The observations on the effects of colchicum on the fibrous tissues, 
on its use in gout, and on the general principles of treatment of the disease, and 
the remarks on the diagnosis of gout from rheumatism, and on the connection of 
the former disorder with cachectic and disordered states of the system, will well 
repay a careful perusal: and we cannot conclude this notice of Dr. Robertson’s 
treatise without cordially recommending it as a sound and practical work, fitted 
for reference both as work of information on the subject, and as a guide to 
practice.”— Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. 

“Bears evidence of being the production of a man of unusually extensive 
experience in the management of gouty affections.”— The Half-yearly Abstract of 
the Medical Sciences. 

“Of considerable value as a book of reference. . . . The light thrown upon 
this in common with other diseases, by chemistry, has made it requisite to be 
considered in new aspects ; and we think that it will be conceded that the author 
has, in this respect, given a value to his labours greatly superior to that of former 
trea’tises upon this subject.”— The Retrospective Address delivered at the Fourteenth 
Anniversary Meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. 






DR. ROBERTSON’S WORKS-continuecI 


Also, in two volumes , post Sro, cloth, pp. 355 and 353, price 12s. 

A TREATISE ON DIET AND REGIMEN. 

FOURTH EDITION. 

RE-WRITTEN AND MUCH ENLARGED. 

EMBRACING THE MORE RECENT VIEWS, FACTS, AND DISCOVERIES 
OF CHEMISTRY AND STATISTICS. 

- * - 

“ The first edition of this work appeared so long back as 1835. The treatise was 
short, condensed, sensible, and perspicuous ; and contained a view of dietetics in 
which, with close adherence to scientific principles, information on all topics 
relating to dietetic and hygienic management was conveyed in a popular and 
interesting form. Since that time the work has passed through three editions, 
in each of which the author has studied to introduce all those improvements which 
the gradual progress of science during the interval, and his own experience in a 
situation where he has occasion to observe much of the effects of diet, have 
enabled him to do. 

“ The present is in all respects a greatly improved form of the work. It is 
manifest that Dr. Robertson has been at no ordinary pains in explaining the 
scientific principles of diet, according to the most recent and most approved 
chemical and physiological doctrines. . . .In conclusion we have only to say 

that, while the medical reader seeking information will peruse this volume with 
advantage, it must prove highly useful to the general reader and invalid, or 
dyspeptic, in warning what to avoid and what to choose.”— Edinburgh Medical and 
Surgical Journal. 

“ A sensible and useful book. . . . It is written in a plain unaffected manner, 
and contains much valuable information.”— British and Foreign Medical Review. 

‘‘ A good work.”— Medico-Chimrgical Review. 

“It is scarcely necessary that we should add our hearty recommendation of 
Dr. Robertson’s treatise, not merely to our medical readers, but to the public over 
whom they have an influence. It is one of the few books which is legitimately 
adapted, both in subject and manner of treatment, to both classes.”— Biitish and 
Foreign Medico-Chxrurgical Review. 

“ We noticed the appearance of the first volume of this work, on a former occa¬ 
sion, with approval. We have since read the second volume, and find reason to 
repeat our approbation. . . . A work which is creditable to his judgment, and 
calculated to prove serviceable to his readers ; we therefore feel no hesitation in 
recommending these volumes to every one desirous of accumulating a choice 
medical library.”— Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science. 

“ The author has displayed considerable industry and research, affording much 
information and many useful directions. . . . The treatise will form a valuable 

addition to our stock of knowledge on the subject of which it treats, brought up, 
as it is, to the present state of chemical science.”— Lancet. 

“As it has been wholly re-written, and the view given on the subject brought 
up with the current of science, it may be regarded as a new work. ... It de¬ 
serves to be characterised as a very sensible book ; plainly the production of a man 
of much intelligence, of extensive reading, and of large experience in his profes¬ 
sion. . . . Altogether, the work is worth the attention of the public, as well 

as of the profession.”— Monthly Journal of Medical Science. 

“ This valuable work, by the physician of the Buxton Rath Charity, is now in 
its fourth edition. Well worthy the attention of parents and guardians, as well for 
their own sakes, as for the health and happiness of those entrusted to their care.” 
—Morning Post. 

“The great recommendation, in our eyes, to this work is, that there is no 
quackery in it—no over-doing you with wisdom—no panaceas. Its language is 
that of a friend speaking to a friend, in plain, intelligible, modest, but impressive 
language, on subjects of all but the highest importance to every one who feels 
that he is an intelligent, and acknowledges himself to be an accountable, moral 
agent. ”— Nottingham Mercury. 
















DR. ROBERTSON’S WORKS —continued. 


“ This book,—which it would not be too much to call a supplementary volume 
to the Reports of the Sanatory Commissioners, and to characterise as being fully 
as necessary to be studied ere the social condition of the people can be rightly 
understood, or efficiently rectified, - ought to be read attentively by all who would 
deal beneficially with the health of the country.”— Preston Chronicle. 

“ It wonld be found an admirable adjunct to the labours of the Executive, in 
promoting an improvement in the sanatory condition of the empire.”— Bath Herald. 

“ Wise and weighty. . . . Demands the attention of the ‘Powers that be.’ 

. . . Dr. Robertson has proved that a wise man can make even a deeply abstruse 

scientific subject perfectly readable.”— Derby Reporter. 

“ Dr. Robertson’s Treatise on Diet and Regimen is unequalled in the language.” 
— Sun. 

“ We must conclude our brief notice of Dr. Robertson’s work, and we do so by 
strongly recommending it to the reading public. Its matter is valuable, and in 
many respects original. It is a work in which common sense, aided by experience, 
is applied to subjects of the greatest consequence to our well-being, and to subjects 
which are seldom treated except in a narrow and bigoted spirit. The author is an 
observer and thinker for himself, and we may say for him—• 

‘ Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri 
•-huic erit mihi magnus Apollo.’ ” 

Constitutional Magazine. 


Also, 12mo, cloth, price 2s. Gd. 


BUXTON AND ITS WATERS: 


AN ANALYTICAL ACCOUNT OF THEIR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES 

AND GENERAL EFFECTS. 

- * - 

“ An interesting and judicious performance.” —Edinburgh Medical and Surgical 
Journal. 

“Will prove useful to the general as well as the professional reader.”— Medico- 
Chirurgical Revieio. 


Also, in a Cover, price Gd. 

A GUIDE TO TI1E USE OF TIIE BUXTON 

WATERS. 

EIGHTH EDITION, REVISED. 

-4- 

“ The recent work of Dr. Robertson puts the reader in possession of the cases 
most benefited by these waters, better than I can do, from his long experience.”— 
Dr. Seymour on Several Severe Diseases of the Human Body. 

“ To those who think to pay Buxton a visit, or may propose to send patients 
there, we can recommend this little pamphlet, as giving very useful information 
respecting the use and curative effects of its tepid waters.”— Lancet. 

“Wo have derived much satisfaction from the perusal of this little pamphlet, 
which will be found a necessary companion to all who are inclined to pay a visit 
to the Buxton Springs.”— Medical Gazette. 











DR. ROBERTSON’S WORKS -continued. 


A ho, price One Shilling, 

A LETTER 


TO 

DR. LION PLAYFAIR, C.B., F.R.S.: 

BEING 

A MEDICAL COMMENTARY ON THE RESULTS OF THE RECENT 
ANALYSIS OF THE BUXTON TEPID WATERS; 

TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED A STATEMENT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS NOW IN 

PROGRESS AT BUXTON, 

AND DR. PLAYFAIR’S ANALYTICAL REPORT. 

- ♦ - 

‘ ‘ Dr. Robertson is well and favourably known to the profession by his previous 
writings ; and he is fortunate, on the present occasion, in dealing with a subject 
at once novel and important. It appears that Buxton has had, of late years, 
such an increasing influx of invalids, that the town and baths could not properly 
accommodate them, and the owner of the baths and adjacent property, the Duke 
of Devonshire, has consequently made great improvements to meet the public 
wants, under the superintendence of Sir Joseph Paxton. In connection with 
these alterations, which have quite transformed the facilities for bathing, the Duke 
requested Dr. Playfair to make an analysis of the thermal springs, which, it will 
be seen, has resulted in a discovery of great consequence to the reputation of 
these celebrated waters. It was found that every imperial gallon of the waters 
contained 20G cubic incites of nitrogen ; and upon this gaseous element, Dr. Playfair 
considers the medicinal properties of the Buxton waters entirely to depend. We 
may judge of the importance of this discovery by the circumstance stated by 
Dr. Robertson, that hitherto only 5'57 cubic inches per gallon were supposed to 
be the proportion in which this important element was contained in these waters. 
As 120 gallons are discharged from the springs per minute, the whole discharge of 
nitrogen per minute amounts to 24,720 cubic inches. 

“ Dr. Robertson, after lucidly comparing the analysis of Dr. Playfair with 
other analyses, and with the analyses of other thermal waters, looks forward to 
new discoveries, and thus concludes his interesting pamphlet:— 

“‘I would venture to reiterate, as a possibly needful corollary to the above 
statements and inferences, the opinion, that all the medicinal effects of the Buxton 
tepid water, and especially its great alterative action, can scarcely be ascribed 
even to the large proportion of nitrogen which it must now be held to contain 
(significant and valuable as this must be admitted to be), but may still be 
referable to the presence of some hitherto undetected constituent. However this 
may be, the great and singularly lasting effects of these baths, and of the internal 
use of this water, are unquestioned and indisputable. Their use is almost specific 
for the relief or alleviation of most cases of rheumatism, and of many cases of gout, 
for which the use of other means and appliances has been sought and tried in vain. 
In proof of this, the fact may be adduced that large numbers of poor handicrafts¬ 
men, who have proved the effect of this water on their suffering and imperfectly 
usable limbs, are known to undergo great privations in order to secure its use at 
stated intervals, from finding that no other means within their reach enable them 
to maintain such a state of their joints as is needful to enable them to follow their 
employment. The yearly reports of the Buxton Bath Charity certify, that of 
15,497 patients, for the most part sufferers from rheumatism, admitted to the 
benefit of the institution, from the year IS 8 to 1851, only 618 had to be sent home 
as being “no better,’’ the large proportion of 11,740 having been discharged as 
cured or much “ relieved ! ” ’ 

“ These are great results, and may vie with any of the vaunts of the thennalists 
of Germany. They should attract our invalids to this beautiful locality, in 
preference to the continental watering places.”— The Lancet, Oct. 2nd 1852. 





















































J 


















